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Tottenham set to swoop for Malick Fofana in January

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Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a swoop to sign Lyon’s highly-rated winger Malick Fofana in the January transfer window, according to CaughtOffside.

Spurs showed no hesitation in bolstering their attack in the recently concluded summer transfer window, first landing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United before sealing a deal for Xavi Simons from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

Mathys Tel’s loan move from Bayern Munich, while Kolo Muani was also brought in on a straight loan—without an option or obligation to buy—to bolster Spurs’ firepower on deadline day.

However, the club did not stop there, as further reinforcements were eyed, including a last-ditch move for Fofana, which proved futile as an agreement couldn’t be reached on time.

This is according to CaughtOffside, who claims that Tottenham made a late move to sign the Belgium international on deadline day, but their attempt was rebuffed as there was no time for Lyon to find a replacement.

Despite their failed late move, the North London club are not relenting efforts, as the report adds that Spurs are still showing a ‘strong interest’ in the 20-year-old and are set to return in the January transfer window to sign him.

‘Strong interest’

Fofana, valued at £26m by Transfermarkt, has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs. However, Caughtoffside reports that Tottenham are showing the ‘strongest interest’ in the Belgian winger ahead of the winter transfer window.

The forward has made remarkable strides since swapping KAA Gent for Lyon in January 2024. The Aalst-born winger, a product of Gent’s academy, has quickly established himself as one of Ligue 1’s brightest young talents over the past 18 months.

The 20-year-old has already racked up more than 50 appearances for Lyon, contributing 16 goals and eight assists. His rapid development has not gone unnoticed, with Tottenham now keen on signing him in January.

The Belgian has started the Ligue 1 season in fine form, recording two goal contributions in three games for Paulo Fonseca’s side, who have won all their games this season.

Interest in the youngster is expected to grow as the season progresses, so it’ll be interesting to see if Spurs can ward off interest from other clubs to land the exciting forward in January.

Tottenham plan to re-open talks for Nathan Ake

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According to Caught Offside, Tottenham Hotspur are considering reopening talks to sign Manchester City star Nathan Ake to add more quality and depth in the defensive department.

The Netherlands international has fallen out of favour under manager Pep Guardiola, and has managed only 67 minutes in three games this campaign. With Josko Gvardiol’s return from injury and the summer arrival of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Ake is no longer an assured starter in central defence or at left-back.

This could pave the way for his potential exit. Caught Offside claim that Spurs are eyeing cover for Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie, who have been injury prone.

Ake has been identified as a possible solution. The London giants were linked with him this summer and could return with a winter proposal.

With Man City’s plans to trim their squad, Ake could be allowed to leave if they receive at least £15m, as per the report.

Premier League proven

Tottenham had a difficult 2024/25 campaign as they spent several months of the campaign without Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven due to injuries. The experienced duo returned in time for the Europa League final where Spurs clinched the title with a solitary goal against Manchester United at San Mames. Spurs were still disappointing in the Premier League as they finished 17th.

Spurs have made a better start with the change of manager. Under Frank, the club have picked up 6 points from 3 games, but they will be wary of potential injuries as the season progresses.

The London giants need a solid back-up for Van de Ven due to his injury record. Spurs don’t have the same urgency at left-back with Djed Spence proving a good competitor alongside Udogie.

Ake would be a brilliant signing for Frank’s side and would require no time to adapt, having been a Premier League player for most of his career.

At the price quoted, he would be a bargain signing despite turning 30, but the big question mark is whether he would accept a deputy role behind Van de Ven to start with. He is already facing a similar situation at the Cityzens.

Tottenham held contact to sign Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman

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Tottenham Hotspur reportedly held contact with Atalanta over a deal to sign Ademola Lookman this summer, as per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Thomas Frank was keen on purchasing a new wide forward in the recently concluded summer window following Son Heung-min’s move to the MLS.

The Lilywhites were prioritising signing Savinho from Manchester City and made a formal proposal to seal the deal. However, the Citizens eventually managed to keep hold of him.

Following that, Tottenham decided to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain on a loan deal on deadline day. Although he isn’t a specialist winger as he is a centre-forward by trait, he can provide cover on either flank.

Now, on his YouTube channel, Romano states that before signing Kolo Muani, Tottenham were interested in Lookman and even opened talks with La Dea to sign the Nigerian on a loan deal with an option to make the move permanent next summer.

However, the Italian side had no intention of letting him leave on a loan and were only willing to sell him permanently for a fee of around £43m. Inter Milan made the most concrete efforts to sign him earlier this summer and launched a formal proposal.

Lookman to Tottenham

But their offer fell short of La Dea’s valuation, so they didn’t allow his departure. Bayern Munich also launched a loan bid offer, but it was rejected by the Italian side.

Lookman was said to be keen on leaving Gewiss Stadium to take the next step in his career. However, he is now set to continue at Atalanta, and he has been included in their Champions League squad.

Romano said:

“I can tell you that, before going all-in for Randal Kolo Muani, Tottenham considered the possibility of going for Lookman. Different players, of course, one is a winger and one is a striker. But Tottenham wanted to do a similar deal, maybe a loan with a buy option, but Atalanta said forget about that.”

Since joining from RB Leipzig, Lookman has established himself as a talismanic figure for Atalanta in recent years. He is currently at the prime stage of his career and could’ve been a shrewd acquisition for Tottenham had they managed to sign him.

However, Kolo Muani is a highly talented player and should be a very useful acquisition for the North London club.

Tottenham plan to reignite interest in signing Savinho

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly planning to reignite their interest in signing Manchester City forward Savinho, as per transfer journalist Graeme Bailey.

Following Son Heung-min’s departure, the Lilywhites identified the Brazilian as the primary target to reinforce the wide forward position. They even made a formal contract with the Citizens to seal the deal, but they refused to let him leave.

After failing to buy the former Girona star, the North London club decided to sign Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain on a straight loan on deadline day.

However, on TBR Football, Bailey says that Tottenham are still interested in Savinho and tried to sign him on deadline day by paying the club record £69m fee.

After failing to secure his service in the recently concluded summer window, Spurs are now planning to make a January swoop to purchase him.

Savinho moved to the Etihad Stadium last summer and showcased glimpses of his qualities in the Premier League last term. So, he still has four years left in his current contract, and Pep Guardiola’s side aren’t in any rush to let him leave.

Savinho to Tottenham

Savinho is comfortable on either flank and is efficient in delivering excellent crosses from the wide areas. Moreover, he can dribble past opposition defenders in tight areas and is also efficient in playing threading passes between the lines.

The South American, valued at around £43m by Transfermarkt, is a highly talented player and would be a great coup should Tottenham eventually manage to secure his service in the upcoming winter window.

However, Kolo Muani is also a top-class player and is currently at the prime stage of his career. He is a centre-forward by trait but is also comfortable on either flank.

After failing to find regular game time at PSG, he went out on loan to Juventus last winter and displayed eye-catching performances, making 10 goal contributions in Serie A and Coppa Italia last term. Moreover, the Frenchman scored twice and registered one assist in the Club World Cup.

Therefore, if he can showcase his qualities in the Premier League this season, Spurs might be looking to make his loan deal permanent next summer.

Tottenham battling with Liverpool to sign Nathan Collins

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly battling with Liverpool over a deal to sign Brentford star Nathan Collins, as per Caught Offside.

After finishing 17th in the Premier League last campaign, the Lilywhites decided to part ways with Ange Postecoglou, and Thomas Frank was appointed as the new manager.

The Australian boss helped Spurs win the Europa League, which secured their place in the Champions League, but it wasn’t enough to keep him at his job.

After appointing Frank as the new manager, it was thought that Tottenham would be looking to make several new acquisitions to help the Danish boss perform well this season.

However, they had a tough summer window, signing only Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons permanently. Apart from that, they made Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso’s loan move permanent, while Randal Kolo Muani and João Palhinha have joined on a loan deal.

Tottenham struggled with defensive frailties last term, but they decided not to go for any defender to address this issue in the recently concluded summer window.

Now, Caught Offside claim that Spurs are planning to make a move for a new defender in January, and Collins is on their radar. Frank previously worked with the 24-year-old at Gtech Community Stadium and is willing to reunite.

Battle

Tottenham believe Collins would be an ideal option to strengthen the defence as he is a leader. The former Burnley man still has four years left in his current contract, and Brentford want at least £43m for him, but they might not want to let him leave in mid-season.

However, Tottenham will face competition as Liverpool are also interested in him, while Man Utd are keen, so the Irishman isn’t short of potential suitors having showcased his qualities in the Premier League in recent times.

The Reds decided to let Jarell Quansah leave and were willing to sign two new centre-backs in the window. They purchased Giovanni Leoni from Parma and were on the verge of sealing a deadline-day move to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace.

However, the move eventually fell through. As a result, Arne Slot has been left with Virgil Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Joe Gomez, and Leoni as CB options.

Konate picked up an injury against Arsenal last weekend, while Gomez has had fitness problems in recent years. On the other hand, Leoni is still very young and needs time to develop. So, Liverpool are short in defence.

It remains to be seen whether Tottenham or Liverpool eventually make a concrete approach to sign Collins in January.

West Ham planning to rival Tottenham for Morgan Gibbs-White in January

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West Ham United claimed their first win of the Premier League season last weekend as Graham Potter’s men picked up a 3-0 success against Nottingham Forest, courtesy of Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Callum Wilson.

In spite of clinching the three points with an emphatic scoreline, the Hammers are lacking in quality and were easily undone by Chelsea and Sunderland in their first two games of the campaign, with their engine room particularly struggling with the ball.

A slow and sluggish game in possession has meant that the board might be prepared to sign a midfielder in January with Caught Offside reporting that Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White has emerged as an option for the Londoners.

Tottenham Hotspur had also come very close to signing him this summer after triggering his £60 million release clause, but the Nottingham eventually kept hold of the Englishman, who scored seven goals and provided 10 assists in the league last season.

West Ham could have advantage but difficult move to execute

Nottingham Forest highly value Morgan Gibbs-White and their swift response to Tottenham Hotspur’s interest by renewing his contract without a release clause is a testament to how crucial he is for the Tractor Boys.

Although he is rated at £43 million on Transfermarkt, Nottingham could set an exponentially high asking price for the 25-year-old in order to see off interest from elsewhere, so West Ham might need to pay through their nose to sign him in the winter.

Yet, they could hold the advantage over Tottenham Hotspur as the Lilywhites were not only left red-faced by Nottingham’s handling of the situation, but they also went and signed Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

Thomas Frank does not need a new midfielder at the moment, not least a player that would exhaust the lion’s share of his transfer budget, so West Ham could actually have the upper hand over their crosstown competitors.

It will be interesting to see if West Ham have the resources to afford Gibbs-White, however.

Tottenham to revive interest in Gibbs-White in January

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly planning to revive their interest in signing Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White in January, as per Caught Offside.

After becoming the Lilywhites’ new manager, Thomas Frank prioritised purchasing a new creative midfielder in the recently concluded summer window. Following James Maddison’s serious knee injury, the need to buy a new No.10 multiplied.

The Forest star was Spurs’ primary target, and they even thought they managed to secure his service by triggering his release clause. However, the Reds accused Tottenham of an illegal approach, and they threatened to take legal action.

Eventually, the 25-year-old decided to stay at City Ground by signing a fresh term. Following that, Tottenham attempted to sign Eberechi Eze and Nico Paz before opting to purchase Xavi Simons to bolster the CAM position.

However, Caught Offside claim that although Spurs have signed Simons, they remain keen on buying Gibbs-White and are planning to make a move for him in the upcoming winter window.

The Forest star may even want to leave to take the next step in his career. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side aren’t in any rush to sell him having recently handed him a fresh term, but they might change their stance should they receive an offer of around £61m.

Gibbs-White to Tottenham

Apart from Tottenham, Aston Villa, West Ham United, and Newcastle United are also interested in signing the Englishman and have been monitoring his development closely before making a potential swoop.

The Hammers currently have Lucas Paqueta as the first-choice option for the creative midfield position. However, he was heavily linked with a move away, and Graham Potter’s side are lining up Gibbs-White as a potential replacement should the Brazilian eventually leave.

Gibbs-White is an energetic, hardworking player. Since joining Forest from Wolverhampton Wanderers, he has established himself as an integral part of the Reds’ starting XI in recent years.

Tottenham reach agreement to sign Randal Kolo Muani

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Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to sign Randal Kolo Muani, as per transfer expert David Ornstein.

The 26-year-old joined Les Parisiens from Eintracht Frankfurt for a big fee a couple of years ago. However, he struggled to flourish in his career under Luis Enrique, so he left the French capital to play regularly last winter and signed for Juventus on a loan deal.

The Lilywhites were said to be interested in him, but the player eventually decided to move to the Allianz Stadium and showcased glimpses of his qualities for the Bianconeri last term.

The Italian giants were keen on signing him permanently, and the player also wanted to return. Juventus had been working on this deal for the whole summer, but eventually couldn’t manage to agree on a deal in principle before making a move for Lois Openda.

So, Kolo Muani was available on the market once again, and Spurs have taken advantage of that. On The Athletic, Ornstein reports that Tottenham have reached an agreement with PSG to sign the forward, and the personal terms have already been agreed with him.

There are no option or obligation to buy clause included in the deal and he is travelling to London to undergo medical before finalising the deal.

Kolo Muani to Tottenham

Fabrizio Romano, on the other hand, backs Ornstein’s report with his trademark ‘here we go’ post and says that Spurs are set to pay around £4m loan fee.

Kolo Muani, valued at around £26m by Transfermarkt, is a versatile player and is comfortable playing anywhere across the front line. Spurs have been working on a deal to sign a new wide forward since Son Heung-min’s departure, and Savinho of Manchester City was their main target.

However, they haven’t been able to secure his service, so the North London club have seemingly decided to go for an alternative option. Kolo Muani is a talented player and is a French international. Therefore, he would be a great coup for Tottenham.

Tottenham open talks over late move for Benjamin Pavard

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Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made an official ‘contact’ to sign Manchester United target and Inter Milan star Benjamin Pavard before today’s transfer deadline, as per Caught Offside.

After joining Bayern Munich from Stuttgart, the 29-year-old enjoyed a successful time at the Allianz Arena, winning several Bundesliga titles, a Champions League trophy, and numerous other major cup competitions.

The Frenchman is a centre-back by trait but can also be deployed in the right-back position. He was mostly used as a right-back by the Bavarian club, but he wasn’t happy as he wanted to play centrally.

Therefore, he decided to leave Bayern Munich and join Inter Milan a couple of years ago. Pavard has enjoyed success at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium as well, winning a Scudetto title and the Supercoppa Italiana. He even guided his team to reach the final of the Champions League last campaign before losing to Paris Saint-Germain.

The experienced defender has even showcased his qualities on the international stage, winning the World Cup with France in 2018. He was also in the French squad in the last World Cup, and they reached the final.

Pavard has been a key player for Inter Milan and started their opening Serie A game against Torino, but remained an unused substitute in their defeat against Udinese last night.

Pavard to Tottenham

Now, Caught Offside state that Pavard is keen on leaving Inter to play regularly as his goal is to secure his place in the France squad for next year’s World Cup.

Manchester United, Barcelona, and Olympique Marseille have all registered their interest in signing him. However, Tottenham are seriously stepping up their interest to beat the competition in this race.

They have already made a formal ‘contract’ with the Nerazzurri to seal the deal before the deadline, and the Italian giants might not prevent him from leaving.

Pavard is valued at around £22m by Transfermarkt and still has three years left in his current contract. So, Cristian Chivu’s side are likely to demand a sizable amount of money to let him leave late in this window.

It is going to be interesting to see whether the North London club can eventually manage to secure Pavard’s service before the deadline by defeating Man Utd in this race.

Tottenham plot audacious deadline swoop for Milan star Rafael Leao

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Tottenham Hotspur are plotting an audacious deadline-day swoop to sign AC Milan’s winger Rafael Leao, according to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney.

Spurs have made several additions to their squad this summer, with reinforcements being added to key positions. In attack, the club made Mathys Tel’s move permanent, having initially joined on loan from Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Xavi Simons now adorns the club’s iconic No. 7 jersey, having sealed a late move after being linked with a move to Chelsea.

Mohammed Kudus has also been a revelation this season and one of the key players for Thomas Frank’s attack after the club broke a 14-year transfer hiatus with West Ham to seal a big-money move for the Ghanaian international.

More reinforcements could still happen before the transfer window closes, as The Independent’s Delaney claims that Spurs are exploring late moves for a forward and a centre-back.

However, despite Simons being able to play out wide, the journalist adds that a move for a left winger could be prioritised if viable options are available in the market.

According to Delaney, one of the wingers the club are exploring to bolster their attack is Portugal international Leao, who has netted a goal in his only appearance this season.

Audacious swoop

With a contract at San Siro running until 2028 as well as the possibility of Milan demanding more than his £60m Transfermarkt valuation, the report adds that the possible transfer of the 26-year-old to North London before the deadline would be ‘difficult’.

Following James Maddison’s ACL setback, Spurs had accelerate efforts to sign a creative no. 10. Their efforts to land Eberechi Eze ultimately came to nothing.

Yet, that disappointment has been quickly overshadowed by Simons’ confirmation as a Spurs signing and Rafael Leao now emerging as a potential target – a deal that, if concluded, would mark one of the boldest windows in the club’s history.

Leao is, without a doubt, among the most exciting attacking talents in the game, a reputation reinforced by his impressive output.

Across the 2024/25 campaign, the Portuguese wide man registered 12 goals and 13 assists in all competitions, having posted 15 goals and 14 assists during the previous season.

With Delany reporting that a deal would be ‘difficult’, it’ll be interesting to see if Spurs will proceed to find a solution or move on to cheaper alternatives with a few hours left until the window shuts.