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Tottenham legend Son Heung-min has reportedly recommended South Korea teammate Oh Hyeon-gyu to the club, with Spurs identifying him as a priority target, it has been claimed.

Spurs are having a terrible time in front of goal this season. After five Premier League games, they’ve scored just twice, and neither goal has come from a forward.

There’s a suggestion that they’re going to look at the final third again in January to rectify the problem, despite spending big on Savio and loaning in Omar Marmoush, whose deal will become permanent in the summer.

Per Turkish Football, Tottenham have identified Besiktas striker Oh as a primary central target for the winter.

They have an agent on hand in regards to that potential move, with icon Son recommending his South Korea team-mate for a move to north London.

Son is said to be playing a consulting role, noting Oh’s development and suitability for the Spurs side. Playing together for South Korea, in 16 games, Oh has assisted Son once.

Whether Tottenham will be able to land the striker in the winter is another question, though, as it’s believed Besiktas are reluctant to sanction a sale in January unless a lucrative offer is sent.

Oh Hyeon-gyu in sight in the Premier League

Spurs were linked with Oh ahead of the summer transfer window, as were Manchester United. That followed eight goals and four assists in 16 games for Besiktas in the second half of last season, following his mid-season move from Genk.

It was suggested in the Turkish media that the clubs were the main ones monitoring the Korean star.

In January of 2026, when Oh ended up joining Besiktas, he was also on the radar of a few Premier League sides.

TEAMtalk was aware that Fulham, Crystal Palace and Leeds were all pushing to land the South Korean striker.

It is not clear if any of those clubs retain their interest a year down the line, with Oh having scored only once this season after an explosion at Besiktas in the few months after he joined.

The international break typically throws up all kinds of wacky stories and fleeting social media trends. From Barclaysmen to Olivia Dean edits, there's always something to keep us entertained during the doldrums of semi-competitive international football.

And, as you might've noticed, this break is a long one. Merging the September and October windows means we get to enjoy two weekends without Tottenham Hotspur ruining them. Roberto De Zerbi's side will be back in action on Oct. 10 away at Manchester United.

Manchester City's guilty verdict is dominating the mainstream narrative, and in truth, it's hard to give the Lilywhites much consideration in the current climate. The aforementioned story is all-encompassing and so far-reaching. It's one of the most significant moments in Premier League history.

But anyway, the show must go on in some capacity, and fortunately, we've got some interesting Roberto Carlos quotes to get stuck into.

Roberto Carlos is backing Tottenham loanee to thrive at the highest level

You might be wondering what on earth Roberto Carlos has got to say about Tottenham, but there is a distinct link.

The Brazilian great has been talking over the break about our Brazilian left-back, Souza, who's spending the 2026–27 season on loan at Porto after joining the club in January. He was a devopmental signing, but injury woes meant he was thrust into the limelight right away.

Souza made four Premier League appearances, the most promising of which arrived when Igor Tudor stationed him as a wide midfielder down the right in a 4-4-2 at Anfield.

The 20-year-old hasn't exactly done much to convince Spurs supporters that they've got something special on their hands, but Roberto Carlos is seemingly assured of his talent.

"I don't like to make comparisons. He [Souza] came to Porto because he has quality. He's a player who played extremely well at Santos; it was a great signing," said the 53-year-old, as reported by O Jogo. "I'm absolutely certain that he will deliver what is expected of him on the field; he's a top-level player."

Souza is yet to make an appearance for Porto, but injuries may see the young Brazilian get his chance after the international break. Francesco Farioli's Primeira Liga holders have made the perfect start to their title defense, winning their opening seven league games.

Should the opportunities arise, this could end up being a good loan for the young left-back, who, as Roberto Carlos pointed out, offered plenty of promise back home at Santos. It's going to take time for the kid to adjust and adapt, but Porto, who are competing in this year's Champions League, should give the 20-year-old plenty of exposure to the highest level.

He just needs to play!

Pedro Porro could be tempted by Barcelona if Tottenham’s struggles continue, despite signing until 2031. Spurs are under no pressure to sell.

Dejan Kulusevski is nearing a return after knee trouble, offering Tottenham needed creativity and raising hopes of a stronger best XI once injuries ease.

Vinai Venkatesham backed Roberto De Zerbi despite Spurs’ poor start, saying he is ‘encouraged by aspects’ of performances and that summer changes and signings need time.

Tottenham’s poor start has exposed a need for a striker, clarity on Richarlison and cover at right-back, despite more than £300m spent in summer.

Tottenham and Everton have made moves for free agent Mauro Icardi, with Roberto De Zerbi keen on a striker, but Spurs have not made an official offer.

Arne Slot is reportedly on Tottenham’s radar as pressure grows on Roberto De Zerbi after a two-point start, though no approach is confirmed.

Tottenham-linked Leonel Flores made his Argentina debut in a 4-0 win over Bolivia, setting up a goal after a bold run and impressing Lionel Scaloni.

Tottenham Hotspur star Pedro Porro could reportedly be tempted by a move to Barcelona, despite the full-back recently signing a new long-term contract with the London club.

Porro, 27, penned a new deal running until 2031 back in June, and Spurs have the option to extend his contract by a further 12 months.

Roberto De Zerbi, who was appointed towards the end of last season, undoubtedly played a role in convincing Porro to commit his future to Tottenham.

However, things haven’t gone to plan since. The start to the current campaign has been a disaster for Spurs, who currently sit bottom of the table on two points after five matches.

According to Football Insider, Porro could be one of several Tottenham players ‘eyeing an exit’ if De Zerbi can’t turn his team’s form around quickly, and Barcelona are named as a potential option for him.

“It’s going to be interesting to see what happens with players like Pedro Porro,” a source told Football Insider.

“The key will be if Tottenham continue to struggle, because if they finish down the bottom of the table again, it’s going to be very hard to keep hold of their best players.

“He’s been happy at Tottenham, that’s why he signed a new contract in the summer, but if they keep finishing low down the table and they’re not in Europe, how long will that last?

“He’s on a long-term contract, but if Barcelona come calling, I think there is a very real chance that he could be tempted away.

“It would mean a move back to Spain, where he’s obviously very highly thought of after winning the World Cup, and maybe that’s something he would be interested in.

“As I say, I’m told he’s happy at Tottenham for now, but that might change if their results don’t improve quickly.”

READ NEXT – Tottenham reach decision on sacking Roberto De Zerbi as Vinai also drops warning over future transfers

Pedro Porro could be tempted by LaLiga switch

It’s no secret that there has been interest from Spain in Porro, though Real Madrid have been linked more so than Barcelona in recent months. Madrid are believed to be long-term admirers of the Spanish international.

Barcelona, for their part, are currently well-stocked in the right-back position, with Joao Cancelo and Jules Kounde being Hansi Flick’s main options.

There is some uncertainty surrounding Kounde’s future, though.

TEAMtalk understands that Chelsea, who came close to signing Kounde back in 2022, could explore a move for the defender.

We revealed in an update earlier this week that Xabi Alonso is personally keen on a move for the French international.

A Kounde transfer away from Barcelona could therefore prompt the LaLiga side to make a move for Porro.

But for now, Tottenham are under no pressure to sell, and Porro will be focused on helping his team turn their dismal form around.

Tottenham Hotspur sold 21-year-old striker Will Lankshear to Middlesborough this summer transfer window for what could potentially become 20 million pounds. While Spurs knew Lankshear is a great young striker, they likely felt that this was money they could not pass up on, thinking they would sign a new center forward and still have both Dominic Solanke and Richarlison.

Fast forward to October, and Spurs are winless in the Premier League, Richarlison isn't a part of the official squad after three transfers fell apart and a silly feud with Roberto De Zerbi emerged, Dominic Solanke has been an outright disaster, and Omar Marmoush is the only center forward Spurs were able to sign in the summer window.

Lankshear, on the other hand, is thriving. The young striker is banging home the goals for MIddlesborough in the EFL Championship and for the England youth national team setup. In league play, Lankshear has found the back of the net six times in eight starts, and he also has two goals in the League Cup in just 121 minutes of action.

Will Lankshear couldn't be worse than Dominic Solanke

Even considering the lesser competition in the Championship, Lankshear has been so impressive and so clinical that it is difficult to imagine that he would be any worse than Solanke in the first team. And with Richarlison ostracized, Lankshear would have gotten real minutes for Spurs this season as a candidate behind Omar Marmoush - or even as a starter if Marmoush's finishing continues to go begging, which could have then opened up more minutes for the Egyptian international on the left wing as an inverted scorer.

The larger issue with Will Lankshear is that he never got much of a chance to play for Tottenham Hotspur despite being tabbed as a promising young prospect, so Spurs really had no way of knowing he would be this good. And to this day, they have no way of knowing if he would have cut it in the Tottenham first team or been a better option to Dominic Solanke and Richarlison.

Tottenham need to win now, but they are also building something lasting for the future. That leads to an age-old debate regarding the balance of giving young players of the future like Lankshear minutes and giving players like Solanke and Richarlison who are veterans and maybe help you win now.

Roberto De Zerbi leaned on veteran players to stay up in the Premier League, but he has been using more young players this season. And last season, it was the young players like Mathys Tel, Antonin Kinsky, and Archie Gray who helped the team the most. Meanwhile, a lot of Spurs worst players were the more experienced ones like Cristian Romero, Randal Kolo Muani, Guglielmo Vicario, and Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham have to find the right balance under De Zerbi, and De Zerbi has to be more ruthless with players like Solanke who are not helping the team win now and have no future value. They are just taking up a spot from someone, like even Mathys Tel as a No. 9, who can help the team both in the future and maybe even in the short term. And the Lankshear failure, for example, could make Tottenham and De Zerbi think a little bit more about someone like Luca Williams-Barnett getting their chance.

Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham has reiterated his backing for head coach Roberto De Zerbi despite the club’s disappointing start to the season.

Minutes from a recent meeting with the club’s Fan Advisory Board show Venkatesham expressed confidence in De Zerbi, the players signed over the summer and the wider changes made behind the scenes.

“The club had made significant changes over the summer, both on and off the pitch, and recognised that these might take time to take full effect,” the minutes read.

“Venkatesham was encouraged by aspects of the underlying performances since the opening day defeat but acknowledged the disappointment at the current points total even at this early point in the season and recognised the frustration this caused supporters following the previous campaign.”

Spurs have undergone a major period of change under De Zerbi, with Venkatesham stressing that the club believe the foundations are being put in place for longer-term improvement.

He also praised the backing from supporters but admitted results will ultimately determine whether confidence in the project grows.

“Supporter backing, home and away, had been excellent and was not taken for granted,” the minutes added.

“He acknowledged that the club must earn supporters’ belief through results.

“The squad had been strengthened with a focus on quality, character and physical robustness, combining Premier League experience with younger players able to develop with the club,” the minutes stated.

“The contract renewals of Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro reflected the belief of two senior players in the club’s direction.

“The objective remained a squad able to compete at the level supporters expect.”

Tottenham Hotspur star right winger and attacking midfielder Dejan Kulusevski is getting closer and closer to his return to the team, and there has been recent speculation that with the player training in full for weeks without setback, he could be ready to make the Spurs squad soon in October after this September international break wraps up.

Kulusevski has not been in action since the end of the 2024/25 season when he suffered what turned out to be a career-threatening knee injury. But Kulusevski is now running, kicking a ball, shooting, and doing everything he needs to be doing in order to be out there with his teammates on the practice field. Now, it is about slowly and carefully integrating him into games, and both Roberto De Zerbi and Graham Potter have been on the same page about taking things easy with the Swedish international.

Tottenham need some more juice in terms of playmaking and scoring. They have not won a single game out of five in the Premier League and are dead last in the table, having scored in just one of those five matches, which was a recent 3-2 loss to Aston Villa.

With Kulusevski on his way back, it's time to think about what the Tottenham starting 11 could look like with the player formally back in the lineup, which, hopefully, should not be before long.

Defense: GK Antonin Kinsky, LB Destiny Udogie, CB Micky van de Ven, CB Jan Paul van Hecke, RB Pedro Porro

There are injury questions here, of course. Destiny Udogie is so hard to predict because he is always in and out of the lineup with various soft tissue issues, while Jan Paul van Hecke just picked up something over international duty with the Netherlands. And we know Pedro Porro is going to be out until late October with an injury, though he should be able to make it back for the rivalry game against Chelsea. And since Kulusevski probably isn't going to be back for a few more weeks, he should get to play with these four defenders in front of Antonin Kinsky. At least, there should be little doubt that this is the best back line for Spurs when everyone is healthy.

Midfield: LCM Mateus Fernandes, DM Sandro Tonali, RCM Dejan Kulusevski

Tottenham Hotspur have struggled badly with creating high-percentage scoring opportunities for their forwards, and the return of James Maddison should be hugely beneficial to the Lilywhites. But Tottenham can think beyond having a No. 10, and while Kulu can play that position, it would be best for him to be in that floating Mezzala role on the right-hand side of the midfield.

That way, Tottenham can get the best of all worlds with Dejan Kulusevski. He can track back and bomb forward to win possession and progress the ball, and he can float and cut inside to shoot and create. Tottenham can have him playing a more advanced role with Mateus Fernandes tucking inside next to Sandro Tonali to create a double pivot, unbalancing the formation a bit and giving Spurs more tactical flexibility.

Kulusevski can be a creative solution for Tottenham with his passing and progression, and he has been a decent secondary scoring option, too. Fernandes will provide ball-winning and defensive presence on the left while still helping the attack, and then Sandro Tonali can screen the back line and playmake from deep, holding it all together. Fernandes and Tonali can interchange roles, too, giving Roberto De Zerbi further flexibility with a more traditional 4-3-3 midfield setup.

Attack: LW Savio, ST Omar Marmoush, RW Mohammed Kudus

Tottenham are honestly still trying to figure the attacking setup out, and while De Zerbi seems to want his wingers to only be inverted, Mathys Tel has been so poor this season that he needs to prove himself again before starting. Meanwhile, Dominic Solanke has been the team's worst player. So these three forwards are the three best Spurs have, and while De Zerbi may want to stick Savio on the right, he is such a great creative winger and still lacking goal threat on the right that playing him on the left may actually unleash his dribbling even more. Meanwhile, we all know Kudus can't play on the left. Kudus and Kulu should be a lethal combination together on the right, especially with Porro at fullback.

Tottenham Hotspur chief executive officer Vinai Venkatesham has given his full backing to under-pressure head coach Roberto De Zerbi, amid growing sack talk, while also delivering a key update on the club’s transfer business for 2027.

Having spent more than £300million on new signings over the summer, with 10 players walking through the door in total, Tottenham’s fortunes from the last two domestic campaigns have not improved through five games of the new campaign.

Indeed, the north London club currently sit rock-bottom of the Premier League table and also exited the Carabao Cup at the hands of Liverpool.

The club’s first two goals of the league season also came in the 3-2 loss to Aston Villa last time out, with the pressure mounting on De Zerbi after a winless start.

However, Venkatesham, speaking at a meeting with the club’s Fan Advisory Board at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium recently, has reiterated his backing for the beleaguered boss.

“Vinai Venkatesham expressed confidence in Roberto De Zerbi, in the players brought in and in the changes made, noting the considerable work underway behind the scenes,” state the recently published minutes of the meeting.

“The club had made significant changes over the summer, both on and off the pitch, and recognised that these might take time to take full effect.

“Venkatesham was encouraged by aspects of the underlying performances since the opening day defeat, but acknowledged the disappointment at the current points total even at this early point in the season and recognised the frustration this caused supporters following the previous campaign.

“Supporter backing, home and away, had been excellent and was not taken for granted. He acknowledged that the club must earn supporters’ belief through results.”

Venkatesham tempers hopes of further big-money Tottenham signings

Reacting to the club’s massive summer in the market, the minutes show that Venkatesham added: “The window had involved approximately 35 first-team transactions (incomings, outgoings and renewals).

“The squad had been strengthened with a focus on quality, character and physical robustness, combining Premier League experience with younger players able to develop with the club.

“The contract renewals of Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro reflected the belief of two senior players in the club’s direction. The objective remained a squad able to compete at the level supporters expect.”

Venkatesham also made it clear that Tottenham must continue to sell players at the right time to stay in line with profit and sustainability rules in place with both the Premier League and UEFA, in a clear indication for fans not to expect any huge incomings in the upcoming January window – despite the club’s current predicament.

“Venkatesham explained that financial regulation represented a genuine constraint. The club had not recorded a profit since 2019, and its costs were rising through investment in the men’s team in wages and transfer fees,” read the meeting minutes.

“He noted that successive 17th-place finishes and the absence of European revenue this season had also affected the club’s revenue position.

“The club monitored itself against the Premier League rules (squad cost of up to 85% of revenue). The UEFA rules are more restrictive – 70% of squad cost, together with a three-year profitability test – and remained relevant to the club’s ambition of returning to European competition.

“Venkatesham said that growing commercial income, including through concerts and other stadium events, was therefore important in creating additional capacity for football investment within the applicable financial rules. He reiterated that football remained the club’s clear priority.”

Tottenham are back in Premier League action on October 10, when they head to Manchester United in desperate search of their first three points of the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured a tough start to the Premier League campaign. Having enjoyed a potential season-defining transfer window, the north London side find themselves bottom of the table. They’ve picked up just two points from the opening five games under Roberto De Zerbi.

There have been moments where fine margins determined the result. A Lewis Hall clearance off the line to deny Pedro Porro in the eventual 2-0 home loss to Newcastle United. A point-blank Zion Suzuki save to push a Savio effort away in a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa last time out. Both incidents came when the scores were level.

How the complexion of the game would have changed had both moments gone in Spurs’ favour.

Whether the international break came at a bad or a good time remains to be seen. The issue, though, is the risk that comes with players jetting off around the world to represent their respective nation. International recognition is always welcomed, but in an extended domestic hiatus where some players could be playing up to four matches only adds to the risk that comes with impressing at club level.

Possible blow for Spurs?

Unfortunately for Spurs, Jan Paul van Hecke is one of those who looks to have suffered as a result. The centre-back, who swapped Brighton for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the summer, left the Netherlands camp earlier this week having partnered Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence in the 1-1 draw with Germany and the 2-1 win over Serbia in the UEFA Nations League.

“He took a knock against Serbia,” Oranje boss Xavi said of Van Hecke. “He is a fighter, and he did try to keep going over the past few days. In training, it became clear that the pain is too severe. That is a shame.”

It’s a blow for his country. Spurs are hoping it’s minor ahead of next week’s return to league duties. Because while Spurs have thoroughly underperformed in the opening weeks of the season, Van Hecke has been arguably one of their better players.

Now, that’s not to say the 26-year-old hasn’t endured his moments of madness. Every player under the watchful eye of De Zerbi has underwhelmed at one time or another, and Van Hecke is no exception.

Saying that, he is imperative to the way that Spurs play under De Zerbi. They dominate because of Van Hecke. Indeed, De Zerbi’s side rank third for possession (60.7%) in the Premier League this season. Van Hecke's 390 passes is the fifth most in England’s top tier this term.

The deep-lying playmaker

Only Marc Guehi (94.3%) has a better pass accuracy than Van Hecke (93.8%) of those to have started every match in the 2026/27 Premier League campaign. What’s more, the Dutch defender places fifth for forward passes (124) of all outfield players. Only two players have created more chances than the former Brighton & Hove Albion man (5) for Spurs.

Van Hecke is absolutely imperative to the way that Spurs play out from the back. He’s ultimately the man to get the ball rolling for the 2025 Europa League winners. That’s not to say there aren’t shortcomings to his game. Van Hecke isn’t a defensive defender so to speak, Xavi Simons’ goal against Brighton at the end of last season a case in point.

He doesn’t have the physical capabilities to act as an enforcer in the same vein as, say, Radu Dragusin or Kevin Danso, two centre-backs who left Spurs for Fiorentina and Sunderland, respectively, over the summer. Some will use this as a stick with which to beat Van Hecke, but the pros far outweigh the cons. For the style of play that De Zerbi wants to implement, he is key.

Van Hecke has been a distribution machine for Spurs

Fortunately for the north London outfit, they do have cover at the back should Van Hecke be forced into a spell on the sidelines.

Marcos Senesi joined from Bournemouth on free earlier in the year, and the Argentine brings that same level of distribution and forward thrust from defence. Even so, Van Hecke’s potential absence may hurt the club. He’s a player who came into the spotlight under De Zerbi when the two were together at the AMEX.

No matter what some Spurs supporters may say, losing Van Hecke for a prolonged period of time will hurt the team. As the club seek to establish an all-Dutch defensive centre-back partnership, De Zerbi will hope to have the Netherlands duo available for next weekend’s trip to Manchester United as Spurs seek to claim their first league win of the season.

And having Van Hecke available for selection will boost their chances of securing a huge three points.

Carlos Baleba could finally make his Manchester United debut against Tottenham Hotspur on October 10 after making encouraging progress in his recovery from an ankle ligament injury.

United invested up to £70million to sign the Cameroon international from Brighton in August, but the injury he suffered during pre-season has prevented Michael Carrick from using one of his biggest summer additions.

Baleba is now approaching full fitness, and his work behind the scenes has reportedly impressed United’s coaching staff.

Baleba could push for Tottenham starting place

According to The Athletic, Baleba has recovered quicker than initially expected and could be in contention when Tottenham visit Old Trafford after the international break.

The 22-year-old has been following an individual programme at Carrington and was fit enough to make the bench for United’s recent 1-1 draw with Fulham, although he remained an unused substitute.

He could now receive valuable minutes in a behind-closed-doors academy fixture against Lausanne-Sport before returning to first-team action.

Baleba arrived at Old Trafford on a contract running until 2031, with an option for another year.

United’s official statistics highlight why the club pursued him so strongly: last season he ranked in the Premier League’s top eight per cent for combined tackles and interceptions and the top one per cent for second balls won.

Baleba could change midfield balance at Man United

Baleba’s return could be extremely important for Carrick.

United strengthened midfield significantly during the summer with Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Baleba, but the former Brighton midfielder offers something slightly different.

His ability to cover ground, win possession and carry the ball through pressure could give United greater athleticism in front of the defence.

There should be no need to rush him straight into 90 minutes against Tottenham, particularly after such a lengthy absence. However, even having Baleba available from the bench would give Carrick another way to change games.

If he comes through the Lausanne-Sport fixture without problems, a long-awaited Old Trafford debut on October 10 suddenly looks realistic.