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Dominic Solanke has endured a difficult start to his Tottenham career.

After joining from Bournemouth last summer for over £60million, the Englishman came with high expectations, but has so far not met them.

With Spurs actively pursuing new strikers, most recently Jonathan David, Solanke’s place in the starting XI could be under threat.

Tottenham push hard for David signature

Tottenham are making a serious push to sign the Canadian international striker, David.

With his contract at Lille set to expire within days, David is available as a free agent, making him an incredibly attractive proposition for clubs across Europe like Napoli and Juventus.

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However, Get Italian Football News has reported that Tottenham’s recent involvement has significantly slowed down the progress of the Italian clubs in their pursuit.

Spurs are said to be engaged in direct talks with David’s representatives, signalling a strong intent to bring the 25-year-old to the Premier League.

David’s impressive goal-scoring record in Ligue 1, where he has consistently been one of their most effective forwards, makes him a prime target for a Spurs side looking to add more firepower.

His availability on a free transfer, despite potential significant wage demands and agent fees, is viewed as a major coup should a deal be finalised for Thomas Frank.

Solanke is now at risk

The intensified links to David should serve as a stark warning to Tottenham’s current centre-forward, Solanke.

After a season where he struggled to consistently find the back of the net and often looked isolated leading the line, Solanke’s position in North London appears increasingly precarious.

While Solanke joined Spurs with high hopes, his 2024/2025 Premier League campaign saw him manage a modest nine goals and three assists across 27 appearances.

For a striker expected to lead the line for a team with Tottenham’s aspirations, these numbers simply aren’t enough, even with his injuries.

His expected goal figures sometimes outstripped his actual goal tally, suggesting either poor finishing or a lack of clinical edge in crucial moments.

Contrast this with his prolific form at Bournemouth the previous season (19 goals), and it’s clear he hasn’t replicated that impact in a Spurs shirt.

The potential arrival of David would represent a significant upgrade, especially with Champions League football returning next season.

Football is a ruthless business, and if Solanke cannot rediscover his best form rapidly during pre-season, he may find himself relegated to a backup role, or potentially even moved on, as Tottenham look to bring in a consistent goal threat to challenge at the top end of the table.

His time to prove himself as the undisputed number nine may be running out.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has a lot of work to do this summer.

The former Brentford boss replaced Ange Postecoglou, who was sacked despite winning the Europa League final in May.

The Dane will take Spurs into the Champions League and will need to ensure that the squad is good enough to compete among Europe’s elite.

Daniel Levy is set to back him in the transfer market, but there could be significant outgoings on the cards too, as he seeks to build the best squad possible for his new man in the dugout.

Tottenham set to make Vuskovic transfer decision

Luka Vuskovic could leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer, despite only just arriving after his transfer was finally confirmed.

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A report from Football London (25 June) claimed that the Croatian could be sent on loan away from Hotspur Way this season.

It states that Frank could decide to allow the 18-year-old to leave after signing Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale in a £5million deal.

Vuskovic could thrive for Tottenham

Spurs beat some of Europe’s top clubs to sign the former Hajduk Split defender, but have been forced to loan him out for two seasons until he reached the age of 18 due to Brexit regulations.

Vuskovic thrived in Belgium with Westerlo last season, even notching 11 goals and four assists, including a stunning overhead kick back in December.

That perhaps explains why a number of fans on social media have reacted to this update negatively, with one describing it as an “insane” move.

The Croatian has played 61 matches despite his young age and even earned his first cap for his country earlier this month.

Many supporters are keen to see the young defender in action after his brilliant loan spell in the Jupiler Pro League, but they may not get the chance just yet.

Considering that the Japanese star has more experience, with 78 senior club matches under his belt and four caps for his country, it makes sense to send Vuskovic on loan for more regular game time that he would get in North London at this stage of his career.

Despite the disappointment of fans, it is probably the right move for his long-term development, which should ultimately serve Tottenham better eventually.

Daniel Levy and Tottenham will be red-faced after the latest developments over Johnny Cardoso.

Cardoso, 23, has played 23 times for Real Betis in La Liga this season as a defensive midfielder, and had a pre-agreement with Spurs in place for a summer move.

Ange Postecoglou was in charge at the time as Giovani Lo Celso went the other way, but the American international has scuppered those plans for Thomas Frank.

One thing for certain: Levy will not be happy.

Atlético Madrid agree deal for Cardoso

ESPN has now reported that Cardoso has snubbed Spurs to join Atlético in a transfer worth £25.5m.

The USMNT midfielder has a release clause of £68m in a new contract signed with the Spanish club.

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Diego Simeone wanted the player due to his La Liga experience, and he was a top target to strengthen his midfield, with Cardoso joining Betis from Brazilian side Internacional last year.

The young American reportedly felt valued after he was linked to Spurs.

If a move to Frank’s side was successful, he would’ve provided excellent cover in midfield going into 2025/2026, after a year of horrid injury luck.

James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, and Dejan Kulusevski all missed the Europa League final and suffered injury setbacks throughout the season.

What big players have snubbed Spurs?

Spurs won the Europa League despite a horrendous season domestically, which will be in the back of the minds of many players linked to the Lilywhites.

Postecoglou won over Mathys Tel after he initially rejected the N17 club while he waited for offers from Arsenal and Chelsea.

Tel, 20, joined Spurs from Bayern Munich permanently this summer, in a move worth £30m

Tottenham agreed a loan deal for Axel Diasi from Chelsea, but the player himself turned down the move and joined Aston Villa in February.

AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori wanted out of the San Siro, but after talks with Spurs, he opted to stay in Italy.

England centre half Marc Guehi, who is hot property this summer, is thought to have also snubbed Spurs, and may be moving to Liverpool.

His Crystal Palace teammate Eberechi Eze and Bryan Mbeumo are deals that Spurs will put everything into, and could add to the list of near misses in the future.

Levy will be desperate to avoid that fate again.

James Maddison has been enjoying some time off ahead of a new era at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The midfielder has been a key player since signing from Leicester City for £40million in the summer of 2023, but couldn’t stop Ange Postecoglou from being sacked.

Thomas Frank namedropped Maddison in his first interview as Tottenham boss and met him ahead of the new season, as he recovers from injury.

While the 28-year-old is expected to return for pre-season soon, there has been an eye-catching announcement.

Premier League star announces retirement

While there has been talk of a Tottenham exit for Maddison this summer, he remains a part of Frank’s plans.

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Spurs are interested in RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, though, which could affect the midfielder’s future.

Maddison has made 75 appearances for the Lilywhites, with 37 goal contributions during his time in the capital.

Last season, he made 21 Premier League starts in a season hampered by injury, but still boasted 16 league goal involvements.

Now, he has bid farewell to a former Premier League favourite as Adam Lallana announced his retirement on Instagram (25 June).

Lallana posted a lengthy message on the social media platform, paying particular thanks to former clubs Southampton and Brighton, alongside various images of him in his playing days.

Maddison said: “What a guy. Some career for some player. One of my favourites to watch growing up, mate and pleasure to now call you my friend. All the best in the next chapter.”

Maddison has key part to play in Frank era

As Frank embarks on the biggest challenge of his career, he will need Tottenham’s senior players on side.

Maddison is certainly in that bracket as he has emerged as a vocal part of the Spurs dressing room.

Although he was unhappy with Postecoglou’s sacking, he is a professional and knows Frank needs support from the playing squad.

On his day, the former Coventry City man can be devastating, and his creativity will be integral to the Lilywhites’ success.

While Lallana has retired, Maddison still has plenty in the tank to drive the North London club forward in this new chapter.

Tottenham have been linked with a move for Udinese defender Thomas Kristensen in recent months.

Dr Rajpal Brar, an injury expert, has assessed his fitness record last season and it has raised concerns with regard to his availability.

The 23-year-old centre-back missed over 10 games due to different injury issues.

Spurs expected to take closer look at Kristensen’s injury history

The Lilywhites will take a look at the multiple occurrences of injury last season before making a final decision on whether or not to sign him, according to Dr Brar.

Tottenham have been linked with Kristensen and he even has an agreement with Udinese over leaving for a big club if the offer arrives.

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Discussing the state of play with Kristensen exclusively with Tottenham News, Dr Brar, a doctor in physical therapy and a sports scientist, shared his verdict.

“Spurs may take a closer look at recent injury issues, with multiple occurrences last season,” he said.

“It’s always a concern whenever there are injuries in the same area and they will want to gauge if that’s the case.

“He has faced issues with his calf, too, as it has kept him out of action for six weeks.“

Tottenham must avoid signing Kristensen this summer

Tottenham should avoid signing Kristensen due to his limited impact and injury concerns, which make him a high-risk option compared to their current centre-backs.

At 23, Kristensen has been hampered by calf injuries, raising doubts about his durability for the Premier League’s intensity.

His passing is also inferior to Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, crucial for Frank’s system.

With Romero, van de Ven, and young talents like Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai, Kristensen offers no clear upgrade.

While he may be affordable, his injury history and unproven top-flight consistency make him a risky investment for Spurs’ defensive needs.

Ashley Phillips and Luka Vušković will both be keen to make their mark at Tottenham.

Tottenham signed Vušković from Hajduk Split and Phillips from Blackburn Rovers in 2023.

Phillips has spent the last season and a half on loan in the Championship, first with Plymouth Argyle for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, before joining Stoke City for the season last summer.

Meanwhile, with Vušković unable to join Tottenham until after his 18th birthday, the teenager has also spent the last year and a half on loan, spending six months with Radomiak Radom before a successful season with K.V.C. Westerlo last time out.

Now, both defenders will be looking to make an impression on Thomas Frank in North London during pre-season.

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Vušković could be preferred over Phillips next season

As reported by Alan Nixon via his Patreon (22 June), Sheffield United want to sign Phillips on loan, but Frank is keen to have the young centre-back as part of his squad next season.

However, it has been suggested that Phillips will demand a loan move this summer to continue his development away from Tottenham, where he is unlikely to play many minutes.

And Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes Vušković’s arrival could clear the path for Phillips to make that move.

“It will be interesting to see what happens with Vušković,” Wenham said.

“If he can hit the ground running, he might be the defender that Frank decides to keep around while he gets acclimatised to English football.

“Therefore, that could open the door for Phillips and Alfie Dorrington to be sent out on loan. However, we will need to wait and see what happens there.”

Tottenham should loan Phillips out this summer

Tottenham are widely reported to have signed Kawasaki Frontale centre-back Kōta Takai in a deal worth £5million.

This, along with the arrival of Vušković, could push Phillips further down the pecking order at Tottenham. Therefore, even if Frank wants to keep the England youth international this season, a loan move this summer might make more sense.

Allowing Phillips to join another club where he is going to play regularly will help his development.

Radu Drăgușin could get his career back on track at Tottenham under Thomas Frank.

Drăgușin has put in mixed performances since signing from Genoa, which includes picking up a needless red card against Qarabag in the Europa League group phase last season.

The Romanian was primarily seen as the third-choice centre-back before his campaign ended prematurely following an ACL injury in January.

Tottenham have already addressed gaps in central defence, having confirmed the permanent signing of Kevin Danso and triggered Ben Davies‘ contract extension earlier this month.

Spurs have also reached an agreement for Kōta Takai this summer, fuelling speculation over Drăgușin’s long-term future at the club, but recent developments could offer the 23-year-old some encouragement.

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Cristian Romero expected to leave Tottenham this summer

While Spurs are currently stocked in defence, it has been widely reported that Cristian Romero could leave the Lilywhites this summer.

The Argentine has been mooted for a move to Atletico Madrid, which looks even more likely following his compatriot Diego Simeone’s comments.

The World Cup winner’s departure would see Tottenham lose their most influential defender, but could pave the path for Drăgușin to revive his Spurs career, especially under Frank’s tutelage.

Drăgușin’s issues in Ange Postecoglou’s system were mainly due to the high line that was being played, though the Romania international was also shaky in possession and often struggled to find the right pass.

However, the former Juventus academy graduate excelled in box defending and demonstrated his dominant aerial ability in a handful of performances where Spurs sat deeper, namely against City.

Frank’s tendency to play a far more compact system will elevate Drăgușin’s qualities while negating some of his downfalls, and could see the defender form an excellent partnership with Micky van de Ven.

Spurs’ defence a priority for Frank

Although early indications show that Frank is desperate to bring in at least one quality attacker in the shape of Eberechi Eze, it is the defence that needs the most attention.

Tottenham still managed to score consistently last season, but they also conceded an astounding 65 goals in the Premier League, which was the 5th highest in the competition.

The former Brentford manager’s priority will be to ensure that this is quickly addressed and vastly improved if Spurs are to have any chance of making next season a success.

James Maddison’s career at Tottenham could be cut short as Thomas Frank assembles his squad.

Maddison arrived in North London from Leicester City in June 2023 and quickly became one of Spurs’ most important players under Ange Postecoglou.

Only Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson have more direct goal contributions in all competitions over the last two seasons. However, a familiar tale of injuries has seen the 28-year-old miss more than 20 games in his two years in N17.

Frank is intent on reshaping the squad to compete on multiple fronts, which has seen the Dane target robust players capable of withstanding the physical strains of Premier League football.

Maddison’s fitness record suggests he may not fit the bill, with questions now being raised.

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Tottenham eye Eberechi Eze as statement signing

Eberechi Eze has been on Tottenham’s radar for a long time, with the Lilywhites now weighing up a move for the Crystal Palace star this summer [The Guardian].

It is widely reported that Eze’s contract has a £68million release clause, which Tottenham are now considering paying to secure the 26-year-old’s signature.

It is believed that Eze would be willing to move to Spurs, having just won the FA Cup with Crystal Palace, and Frank is expected to play him in his preferred central position behind the striker.

This could spell trouble for Maddison, as ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – questions whether the current Tottenham playmaker and Eze can coexist.

“Eze and Maddison, can they play together?” King said.

“They’re very similar. Both like to get forward more than they like to defend, and they can score goals. However, if Tottenham want to improve their squad, this is the kind of player they need to go for.

“I like Eze, I always have. He’s a very talented player, and Tottenham should be making a move for him. However, does this mean Maddison will be sold to bring in Eze? It certainly leaves some question marks.”

Eze would get Tottenham fans on their feet

The Spurs faithful are optimistic about the future under Frank, but are worried that Daniel Levy will revert to his old ways of not fully backing the manager.

Early indications are that the Spurs chairman might have turned a new leaf, and securing the signing of Eze would go a long way to restoring faith among the supporters.

The creative midfielder has been a revelation for the Eagles, often providing the bit of magic in the form of a goal or assist, including scoring the all-important winner in the FA Cup final.

However, it’s his effortless dribbling and ability to glide past players across the pitch that will get Spurs supporters on their feet and make him an instant hit in North London.

Dejan Kulusevski’s position at Tottenham looks uncertain after recent transfer developments.

Kulusevski was an important player for Tottenham last season before he picked up an injury toward the end of the campaign.

The Swede’s impressive performances under Ange Postecoglou saw him establish himself as a fan favourite in North London.

It looked as though the 25-year-old was coming into his own and was now one of Spurs’ most important players. However, a recent transfer update suggests Kulusevski’s place at Tottenham is far from fixed.

Tottenham’s interest in Eberechi Eze is bad news for Kulusevski

Tottenham fans will be desperate to see Kulusevski back to his best after injury troubles in recent months.

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Under Postecoglou, the former Juventus ace demonstrated incredible potential as an attacking midfielder. However, that could all change with the arrival of Eberechi Eze.

Tottenham are widely linked with Eze, and could look to activate the Crystal Palace star’s £68million release clause this summer.

While Eze can play on the left wing, he is more comfortable as an attacking midfielder. With James Maddison already first on Spurs’ team sheet and Eze potentially set to join this summer, it is difficult to see where Kulusevski would fit in.

There is the possibility that he returns to the right wing, but that would mean battling for a spot with Brennan Johnson, who was Spurs’ top scorer last season. It would also be futile to waste Kulusevski in a position where he is not as effective.

Therefore, it seems that Frank will have a real problem on his hands when trying to get the best out of each player, with a particular dilemma over how to deploy Kulusevski with Maddison and Eze also in the squad.

Tottenham should sign Eze

Even with the headache his signing could bring Frank, Tottenham should sign Eze this summer.

The Englishman became hot property the second he netted the winner for Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final and will be a huge statement signing. Indeed, the midfielder will show both other clubs and potential recruits that Spurs are serious about adding to their trophy cabinet.

As such, the Lilywhites must demonstrate that they are ready to compete by bringing Eze to North London.

Ange Postecoglou looks as though he is still positively impacting Tottenham from afar.

Daniel Levy made the brutal decision to axe Postecoglou and replace the Australian with Thomas Frank.

However, after lifting the UEFA Europa League and ending a 17-year trophy drought at Tottenham, Postecoglou appears to be the gift who keeps on giving following a recent transfer development.

Tottenham agree deal to sign Kōta Takai

Tottenham are widely reported to have agreed a deal to sign Kawasaki Frontale centre-back Kōta Takai for £5million, a record fee for a player from the J-League

And there is plenty of reason to suggest that Posteoglou might have been involved in this deal before he was dismissed in North London.

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The 59-year-old spent three and a half years in the J League as the manager of Yokohama F. Marinos. He left quite an impression after winning the league in 2019 and had a strong connection to the Japanese market.

Postecoglou then went on to develop several top Japanese players at Celtic, including Reo Hatate and Kyōgo Furuhashi.

The former Tottenham manager would have been well aware of Japan’s top talents, and it is therefore likely that he would have been the one to recommend that the Lilywhites sign Takai.

And it looks as though Levy has followed through on that potential recommendation even now that Postecoglou has left, which could indicate just how good Takai is.

Takai will be a good rotational option at Tottenham

There is no doubt that Frank will have a lot of fun with Takai over the next couple of years.

Indeed, while the defender is only 20 years old, he already has the stature and mentality of a senior player. Takai is right-footed but is comfortable playing as either a right or left centre half, which could come in handy if any Tottenham defenders leave this summer.

Furthermore, the youngster has already developed an acute awareness of his surroundings when on the pitch and is happy to put his body on the line when needed. This will be useful during the later stages of the UEFA Champions League if Spurs are looking to preserve a small lead.

Therefore, Takai could end up being one of the smartest moves that Tottenham have made in recent years.