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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly held talks to sign Brighton and Hove Albion star Kaoru Mitoma, as per TEAMtalk.

Ruben Amorim deployed a back three system at Old Trafford and didn’t use natural wingers. Therefore, he allowed Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Jadon Sancho to leave and bought Matheus Cunha, who is comfortable playing in the inside forward role, last summer.

Meaning, United currently don’t have a natural left-winger, and after parting ways with the Portuguese, they would likely appoint a manager who would play in a back four system with wingers.

Therefore, it appears Man Utd have started exploring options to strengthen the flanks. TEAMtalk claim that United hold a long-term interest in Mitoma and have been offered the chance to sign him through intermediaries, with his existing deal set to expire at the end of next season.

However, Tottenham are also in this race and have received the opportunity to sign the Japanese international. Moreover, Saudi Arabian clubs are considering making a move for him as well.

Bayern Munich expressed their interest in the Brighton star previously, but having reinforced the LW by purchasing Luis Diaz last summer, they aren’t looking for a new wide forward at the moment.

Mitoma, valued at around £26m by Transfermarkt, has showcased his qualities in the Premier League in recent years and even scored an excellent goal against Manchester City in midweek.

Battle

The 28-year-old is a left-winger by trait and Tottenham need a new wide forward following Brennan Johnson’s departure to Crystal Palace in this window.

Moreover, Mohammed Kudus has picked up an injury and is set to remain sidelined over the next couple of months, while Dejan Kulusevski has been out injured since the start of this season.

Therefore, Wilson Odobert is the only option Thomas Frank currently has at his disposal to deploy on the flanks. Mathys Tel, Randal Kolo Muani, and Xavi Simons can provide cover on the flanks; however, they aren’t specialist wingers.

Mitoma is a Premier League-proven player and would be a great coup for Man Utd or Tottenham should either club purchase him. However, it is going to be interesting to see whether the North London club or the 20-time English champions eventually make a concrete approach to secure his services in January or next summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly battling with Liverpool and Chelsea over a deal to sign FC Koln forward Said El Mala, as per German football expert Christian Falk.

Although the Lilywhites purchased Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United by spending big money last summer, they didn’t sign a new left-winger despite selling Son Heung-min.

On top of that, Thomas Frank has decided to sell Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace in this winter transfer. With Dejan Kulusevski already out injured since the start of this season, Kudus has now sustained an injury and is set to remain sidelined until after the March international break.

As a result, the Danish boss has been left with Wilson Odobert as the only specialist wide forward option at the moment. However, he has struggled to perform at his best thus far this season.

Randal Kolo Muani, Xavi Simons, and Mathys Tel can provide cover on the flanks if needed. However, Simons is more comfortable in the No.10 role, while Kolo Muani joined on loan last summer and could return to PSG this summer.

Tel, on the other hand, is reportedly willing to leave to play regularly and develop his career, having struggled to find regular game time thus far this season.

Now, on CF Bayern Insider, Falk reports that Tottenham are interested in strengthening the flank and have earmarked El Mala as a serious target.

Battle

However, purchasing the 19-year-old won’t be straightforward for the North London club as Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City are also in this race.

El Mala is valued at around £35m by Transfermarkt and still has a contract until 2030. Therefore, Koln are in a strong position to demand a big fee if they are forced to cash-in in January or next summer.

El Mala is a left-winger by trait and has displayed his qualities this season, making eight goal contributions in six Bundesliga starts thus far this season.

Liverpool are reportedly planning to sign a new forward following Alexander Isak’s serious injury, while Chelsea seemingly want a new wide forward, as new summer signings Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens have been below average this season.

El Mala is a talented player and would be a shrewd acquisition for Chelsea, Tottenham, or Liverpool should any of those clubs eventually manage to secure his services.

Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky Van de Ven, as per a recent report.

Since joining the Lilywhites from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in 2023, the Dutchman has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League, helping his side win the Europa League title last term.

Although Spurs have struggled under Thomas Frank’s guidance thus far this season, languishing in the bottom half of the table, Van de Ven has displayed promising performances, making seven goal contributions across all competitions.

Moreover, he has helped his side keep 10 clean sheets. Having proven his worth in club football, the 24-year-old has secured his place in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands national team.

Now, as per a recent report (via TEAMtalk), Liverpool are ‘desperate’ to sign a new centre-back as Ibrahima Konate’s existing deal is set to expire at the end of this season, and Virgil Van Dijk is edging closer towards the twilight of his career.

Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace is the Reds’ primary target, but they feel securing his service in mid-season would be difficult, with Manchester City now keen on purchasing him following Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias’ recent injury problems.

As a result, Liverpool have shifted focus to alternative options and have identified Van de Ven as a ‘major target’. So, they could make a concrete approach to secure his service in January or next summer.

Van de Ven to Liverpool

Van de Ven doesn’t want to leave the Premier League if he were to leave Tottenham, unless Real Madrid make a move.

With the Dutchman still under contract until 2029, Spurs aren’t in any rush to sell him this year and are willing to keep hold of him by tying him down to a new term.

Therefore, Liverpool will have to launch a lucrative proposal to persuade Tottenham to cash-in on Van de Ven, who is valued at around £56m by Transfermarkt.

Van de Ven is a Premier League-proven player and is yet to reach his prime. Therefore, he would be a great coup for the Merseyside club should they eventually manage to secure his services this year.

Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement with Santos for the permanent transfer of Brazilian left-back Souza to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as per Fabrizio Romano.

Tottenham are seeking additions to strengthen their squad following an underwhelming opening to the season. Currently 14th in the table, Spurs are aiming to build momentum in the second half of the campaign as they push for European qualification.

One area they’re looking to reinforce is their left full-back ranks due to the incessant injuries to Destiny Udogie, which has seen Djed Spence constantly deputise for the Italian international, with Souza now identified to add depth.

After breaking into Santos’ senior side last season, Souza featured 38 times for the Brazilian club, registering one goal and four assists. Twenty-four of those appearances came during the previous campaign, when he played a role in helping Santos avoid relegation.

According to reports via Football Talk, Spurs submitted an improved offer to sign the defender after their initial £8m opening bid was rebuffed.

It appears their bid have now been accepted, as Romano claims that the North Londoners have reached a verbal agreement with Santos for Souza’s transfer to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The transfer expert adds that the 19-year-old is scheduled to arrive in the UK on Sunday for his medical process and exchange of documents following the agreement with the player’s entourage and Santos on a £13m deal.

Souza to Tottenham

Thomas Frank seems eager to recruit a left-back during the winter transfer window, with Destiny Udogie’s time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium proving inconsistent. The Italian defender has also battled recurring fitness problems over the past year, strengthening the case for reinforcements.

During Udogie’s absence, Djed Spence has often stepped in despite naturally operating on the right, while Ben Davies was deployed in the role for last Saturday’s 1–1 draw with Sunderland.

The addition of a natural, reliable left-back should relieve some of the strain on Tottenham’s back line as they aim to generate momentum heading into the second half of the season.

Souza’s move to Tottenham is viewed not only as a significant addition in terms of depth to enable the club to stage a strong second half of the season, but also as a long-term option capable of eventually taking over the role and establishing himself among the world’s best left-backs.

Tottenham Hotspur have not got much quality up front and could invest in a newer signing at some point this year, especially as Dominic Solanke has been largely unavailable this year as he continues to fight fitness problems.

According to Sport Illustrated, Tottenham are interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Jorgen Strand Larsen during the summer transfer window with the transfer on the cards should the Midlanders get relegated to the Championship.

Strand Larsen is valued at £35 million on Transfermarkt and has a contract at Wolves till 2028. His attractive price, coupled with being just 25, makes him a solid option for several clubs, who could join Spurs in the battle for his signatures in the summer.

Strand Larsen ideal for Spurs

Wolverhampton Wanderers have struggled this season and have only one win in 21 games. That has meant Jorgen Strand Larsen’s own form has also taken a hit, but his quality was visible over the course of the 2024/25 campaign.

Last season, he scored 14 goals and provided five assists in all competitions. The former Celta Vigo ace is known for his aerial prowess in the box, thanks to a height of nearly six and a half feet, and excellent movement, which make him a lethal striker.

Jorgen Strand Larsen’s hold-up play is also fantastic as is his link-up play with his teammates, so he promises to be a solid signing for Tottenham Hotspur, who need somebody consistent in front of goal sooner rather than later.

Tottenham Hotspur have only one win in their last six matches in all competitions, none in 2026, and sit 14th in the Premier League standings 21 matches into the season. Understandably, the pressure on Thomas Frank is starting to increase.

While the former Brentford boss’ position at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium remains safe for the time being, it is believed that a few more winless results could see him get the firing, thus leaving the club to hire yet another first-team manager.

According to Caught Offside, Olympique Marseille coach Roberto de Zerbi has been identified as one of the options to replace Frank after the Italian’s good work with the Ligue 1 outfit so far as well as a successful tenure in England with Brighton.

De Zerbi a good choice for Spurs

Roberto de Zerbi has done a great job at Olympique Marseille, who sit third in the Ligue 1 table and are placed 16th in the UEFA Champions League standings, firmly in contention for the knockout stage play-offs.

His attractive style of football has seen him succeed in France and England, and his possession-based system of exploiting spaces higher up the pitch will aid Tottenham Hotspur, who have decent creative player as well as versatile frontmen.

De Zerbi’s time in the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion will give Spurs the confidence that he can do well for them as well with limited resources at hand. Pep Guardiola also called him ‘one of the most influential managers’ in recent times.

It is unlikely that Marseille will let De Zerbi join Spurs midway through the season, but the Italian could entertain thoughts of returning to the Premier League in the summer, although Tottenham may need to pay a decent sum to buy out his contract.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ‘most interested’ in signing West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen, as per Spanish outlet Fichajes.

Since moving to the London Stadium from Hull City, the 29-year-old has established himself as a talismanic figure, helping his side win the Conference League.

He has showcased his productivity over the years, recording 20 or more goal contributions in each of the last four consecutive campaigns. This season, the forward has also shown glimpses of his qualities, scoring six goals and registering two assists across all competitions.

Although his existing deal with West Ham is set to run until 2030, speculation surrounding his future has started emerging as the Hammers’ Premier League status is under threat.

Following a disappointing 2-1 defeat against fellow relegation fighter Nottingham Forest, the East London club have found themselves seven points behind safety.

Now, Fichajes state that if West Ham eventually endure relegation at the end of this season, they would be forced to let Bowen leave as he wants to continue playing at the highest level.

Tottenham are ‘most interested’ in signing Bowen as they want to reinforce the frontline by purchasing a Premier League-proven player and could make a concrete approach next summer.

Bowen to Tottenham

Bowen, valued at around £30m by Transfermarkt, is a left-footed right winger by trait but is also comfortable providing cover as a second striker.

Spurs decided to reinforce the flanks by signing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham last summer, but following Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson’s departure, they have started exploring options to sign a new winger.

Currently, Thomas Frank has been left with only the Ghanaian plus Wilson Odobert as the specialist wingers, with Dejan Kulusevski remaining sidelined due to his injury.

Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel have provided cover on the wing, but they are more comfortable centrally, while Kolo Muani has joined on a loan deal and could return to PSG at the end of this season.

Bowen is currently at the prime stage of his career and could be a shrewd acquisition for Tottenham should they purchase him. However, it is going to be interesting to see whether the North London club eventually make a concrete approach to secure his services.

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a January swoop to sign Club Brugge’s prolific left winger Christos Tzolis, according to TEAMtalk.

During the 2024–25 season, Tzolis enjoyed a remarkable spell, amassing 37 goal involvements and playing a crucial part in Blauw-Zwart’s Champions League run, which ended in the last 16 against Aston Villa.

That form has flowed into the current campaign, with the 23-year-old delivering an impressive return of 11 goals and 15 assists across all competitions as Nicky Hayen’s side continues their title push in the Jupiler Pro League.

Earlier in his career, Tzolis also had a stint at Norwich City in the EFL Championship, where he made 30 appearances, scoring three goals and providing two assists.

A Premier League return could be on the horizon for Tzolis, as TEAMtalk claims that Tottenham have earmarked the prolific forward for a move to North London, having impressed the club’s scouting and analytics department.

The report adds that Thomas Frank’s side has been exploring several attacking options, including Ademola Lookman, Rodrygo, Savinho, Nico Williams, Maghnes Akliouche, and Tzolis, who have now emerged as the club’s preferred options.

Prolific forward

In recent months, Spurs have been watching the Greek international’s performances and could consider making a January swoop for him, with Brugge demanding a club-record £35m fee, according to the report.

Last summer, the North London side ended a 14-year transfer hiatus with West Ham United by signing Mohammed Kudus from their London rivals, marking the first deal between the clubs since Scott Parker’s switch to White Hart Lane in 2011 after the Hammers’ relegation.

They also landed a high-profile deadline-day signing in Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, while Randal Kolo Muani arrived on loan alongside Mathys Tel, whose move was later made permanent following a six-month loan spell.

Despite those additions, attacking output has been limited, with Kudus leading the way creatively on six Premier League assists. At the same time, none of the new attacking signings have managed more than two goals individually.

Hence, Frank is now looking to add a goalscoring forward to his attack, and Tzolis, who has 63 goal contributions in 86 games for Brugge, would be a viable option to provide the manager with the clinical edge his team currently lacks.

Tottenham Hotspur will look to turn a corner as they face Sunderland on matchday 20 at 15:00 local time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

If results don’t go their way in the initial few weeks of the year, Thomas Frank’s job could come under serious scrutiny and with the Dane potentially fighting for survival too, he is expected put out his best team out in his next game.

Here is how the Lilywhites might line-up for the clash.

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario is expected to feature in between the sticks.

Defenders – Pedro Porro and Djed Spence played decently against Brentford and might keep their places at right and left back, respectively, as could Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven to round off an unchanged defence.

Kolo Muani starts

Midfielders – Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur were back together in the double pivot for Tottenham Hotspur in the last match, and are likely to continue playing together once more with Pape Mata Sarr away for AFCON duty.

Archie Gray might keep his place in the team as well as their number 10 owing to Xavi Simons’ suspension.

Mohammed Kudus could feature on the right wing too, and the home side’s only change could see them switching Wilson Odobert in favour of Randal Kolo Muani on the left wing for Spurs.

Forward – Richarlison is set to lead the line for Tottenham again.

Here is how the Lilywhites might look on paper.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ‘increasingly confident’ of signing Manchester City forward Savinho, as per Caught Offside.

After joining French side Troyes from Brazilian team Atletico Mineiro back in 2022, he went out on loan to PSV Eindhoven immediately. However, he struggled to break into the Dutch giants’ first team squad, and after returning to Troyes, he joined La Liga side Girona on a loan deal in the following year.

He burst onto the scene, having displayed impressive performances at Estadi Montilivi during the 2023/24 campaign. In 41 appearances across all competitions, he made 21 goal contributions.

After being impressed by his performances, Man City decided to purchase him ahead of last season. It is important to mention that Girona and Troyes are owned by the City Football Group.

Savinho displayed glimpses of his qualities at the Etihad Stadium last term, making 13 goal contributions in all tournaments. However, he has struggled to find regular game time thus far this season.

Moreover, with Antoine Semenyo set to join this month, competition for the first team spot will get even tougher. Now, Caught Offside claim that following the Ghanaian’s arrival, Man City are expected to sell Oscar Bobb or Savinho before the deadline.

Tottenham attempted to sign the Brazilian last summer, but the Citizens didn’t allow his departure. Now, Tottenham are ‘increasingly confident’ of securing his service in this winter window.

Savinho to Tottenham

The North London club might attempt to sign the South American on a loan deal with an option or obligation to make the move permanent at the end of this campaign.

Savinho is valued at around £39m by Transfermarkt and has a contract until 2031. Therefore, Man City are likely to demand a big fee to let him leave.

The report say that apart from strengthening the flanks, Tottenham also want a new centre-forward with FC Porto star Samu Aghehowa high on their wishlist.