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Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly showing the ‘strongest interest’ in signing Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, as per Caught Offside.

The 28-year-old initially moved to Selhurst Park from German side Mainz on loan back in 2021 before the move became permanent in the following year. At first, the Frenchman took time to settle into the physicality of the Premier League, but he has been in excellent form since Oliver Glasner’s arrival as the manager.

The forward made more than 20 goal contributions across all competitions in the last two seasons; moreover, he guided his team to win the FA Cup and Community Shield recently.

Mateta has continued to showcase his goal-scoring prowess this season, scoring seven goals in 13 appearances in all tournaments.

Now, Caught Offside claim that the Frenchman has entered the final two years of his current contract, and Crystal Palace want to keep hold of him by tying him down to a fresh term.

However, Mateta doesn’t want to prolong his stay at the South London club as he is keen to take the next step in his career. So, Glasner’s side would be open to letting him leave in January for a fee of around £40m.

Battle

Despite purchasing Benjamin Sesko this summer, Man Utd are planning to buy a new striker and are showing the ‘strongest interest’ in signing the Crystal Palace star.

However, the report say that purchasing the France international won’t be straightforward for the Old Trafford club as Newcastle United and Tottenham are also keen on him.

United currently have Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee as striker options, but it appears Ruben Amorim hasn’t been convinced by the Dutchman. So, he has found it difficult to play thus far this season.

On the other hand, Tottenham have been without their first-choice striker, Dominic Solanke, during the first few months of this season due to injury problems.

So, purchasing a Premier League-proven player like Mateta would be a shrewd acquisition 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 Red Devils eventually make a concrete approach to secure his services next year.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly planning to make a move to trump Chelsea in the race to sign FC Porto star Samu Aghehowa, as per TEAMtalk.

The 21-year-old joined the Portuguese giant from Atletico Madrid last year. He enjoyed a productive debut campaign at Estadio do Dragao last term, scoring 25 goals and registering three assists across all competitions.

This season, he has showcased his goal-scoring prowess as well, netting eight times in six appearances in domestic competitions. Moreover, he has helped his side place themselves at the top of the Liga Portugal.

After displaying his qualities in club football, Aghehowa has secured his place in the Spain national team. Now, TEAMtalk claim that Tottenham are interested in signing a new striker as Dominic Solanke has struggled with injury problems this season and have identified Aghehowa as a serious option.

However, the North London club aren’t the only club in this race as Chelsea are also plotting a swoop. The Blues made a concrete approach to buy the Spaniard last year, but eventually couldn’t manage to finalise the deal.

The report say that purchasing the youngster won’t be easy for Tottenham or Chelsea in mid-season, with Spurs also looking for a new wide forward in the winter window.

Battle

Aghehowa is valued at around £43m by Transfermarkt and still has four years left in his current contract. Therefore, Porto are in a strong position to demand a big fee if they are forced to let him leave next year.

Tottenham currently have Richarlison and Mathys Tel as striker options alongside Solanke. However, Tel is young, and it looks like he isn’t ready to play regularly at the highest level yet.

On the other hand, Chelsea signed Liam Delap and João Pedro this summer to bolster the centre-forward position, but the former Ipswich Town star has been sidelined due to a hamstring problem in recent months.

Aghehowa, standing at 6ft 4in tall, is quick, strong, good in the air, efficient in finishing off his chances, and also works hard without possession. He is a talented player and could become a top-class forward in the future.

So, he might be a shrewd acquisition for Tottenham or Chelsea should either club eventually manage to purchase him in the upcoming winter window.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly planning to make a move to sign Ivan Toney, as per Caught Offside.

After letting Harry Kane leave, the Lilywhites decided to reinforce the centre-forward position by purchasing Dominic Solanke from AFC Bournemouth for a club record fee last year.

However, he displayed average performances last term before remaining sidelined due to injury problems during the first few months of this campaign.

So, Thomas Frank has deployed Richarlison in the centre-forward position thus far this term. However, he has struggled with fitness problems since joining from Everton a few years ago. Mathys Tel is another option the North London club have for the No.9 role, but he is still very young and needs time to develop his career.

Now, Caught Offside claim that Tottenham are planning to buy a new striker in January and have earmarked Toney as a serious option, having been impressed by his recent eye-catching displays in the Middle East.

Frank knows the player very well, having developed him at Brentford, and is a ‘big admirer’ of the forward. However, the North London club aren’t the only club interested in Toney, as Chelsea are also considering making a move.

Battle

The Blues decided to reinforce the frontline by purchasing Liam Delap and João Pedro this summer. However, the former Ipswich Town star has been out injured, so Enzo Maresca is willing to sign a new striker in January.

Toney would be open to returning to the Premier League to secure his place in the England national team for next year’s World Cup. However, Al-Ahli don’t want to part ways with him in mid-season with his existing deal set to run until 2028.

Toney showcased his goal-scoring prowess in the Premier League during his time at Gtech Community Stadium and has continued to score goals for Al-Ahli, making 11 goal contributions in 12 appearances across all competitions this season.

The Englishman is still just 29 and can play at the highest level for a few more years. Therefore, he could be a shrewd acquisition for Chelsea or Tottenham should either club eventually manage to secure his service.

Tottenham Hotspur are on the road in the Champions League for the second successive game as they face Ligue 1 side AC Monaco on matchday three of the competition at 20:00 UK time tomorrow at Stade Louis II in Monte Carlo.

With four points on the board in two matches, Thomas Frank’s men are starting to mount up enough in the bag to qualify for the knockout phases and another win would put them in a more comfortable position to seal their objective.

Having said that, here is how the visitors may line-up for tomorrow’s match.

Goalkeeeper – Guglielmo Vicario is expected to get the nod in goal for his 11th game in all competitions this season.

Defenders – Pedro Porro and Djed Spence have had a great start to the season, and they both are likely to receive starts at right and left back, respectively. With Cristian Romero injured while warming up against Aston Villa at the weekend, Kevin Danso and Micky van de Ven might round off an unchanged back four.

Two changes in midfield

Midfielders – Thomas Frank is likely to ring in two changes in Tottenham Hotspur’s midfield as Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur are both likely to drop out, making way for 19-year-old Lucas Bergvall and Pape Mata Sarr in the double pivot. Mathys Tel, who played as the striker against Aston Villa last time could be deployed as the number 10 this time.

Mohammed Kudus is likely to continue down the right wing, whereas Xavi Simons could move to the left side having played in the last two matches as an attacking midfielder.

Forward – Richarlison could lead the line for Tottenham Hotspur with Dominic Solanke still sidelined with injury.

Here is a look at the Spurs team on paper.

Tottenham Hotspur are in pole position ahead of Man Utd and Chelsea to sign Juventus centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic in 2026, as per Tuttojuve.

The Serbian forward has endured a topsy-turvy stint in Turin. After a prolific spell at Fiorentina, he joined Juventus in January 2022 and swiftly became a vital figure for the Old Lady.

Since arriving at Juventus, the Serbian striker has amassed 154 appearances, directly contributing to 77 goals for the Bianconeri. However, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, uncertainty looms over his future.

The 25-year-old has begun the new campaign in fine form, recording four goals and one assist in nine matches so far. However, despite featuring in every fixture, he has often been limited to substitute appearances.

Talks over a new contract have stalled, and Juventus could be tempted to sell the striker in the upcoming January transfer window rather than risk losing him for free.

Hence, several clubs are now looking to poach Vlahovic from the Bianconeri, with Tuttojuve reporting that Tottenham have expressed interest in signing the 6ft 2in centre-forward.

The report adds that the North London club view the Serbian international as the ideal option to bolster their attack and are now ‘in pole position’ to sign him in 2026.

Spurs eye Vlahovic swoop

However, competition for the Serbian is high, with the La Liga champions Barcelona eyeing him as Robert Lewandowski’s potential replacement, while Chelsea and Manchester United are set to leverage their financial strength to compete for his signature, as per the report.

Tottenham’s growing concerns over Dominic Solanke’s injury setbacks, coupled with Richarlison’s inconsistent form and fitness troubles, have prompted the club to explore attacking reinforcements — with Vlahovic now emerging as a prime target.

Vlahovic, who is valued at £30m by Transfermarkt, has proven himself in Italy, and he has the physicality and technical attributes to do well in the Premier League as well.

Having netted 17 goals in all competitions last season, the 25-year-old has also proven he’s still capable of consistently scoring goals, especially in the biggest games, as evidenced in his brace in the dramatic 4-4 draw against Borussia Dortmund last month.

Vlahovic is also a constant aerial threat, and his speed on the counter as well as physicality are attractive propositions that would prove instrumental to Thomas Frank’s side should Spurs successfully trump Chelsea and Man Utd to secure his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a swoop to sign FC Porto centre-forward Samu Aghehowa, according to TBR Football.

Tottenham spent heavily to strengthen their frontline in the summer. Yet, the North London side still lack a consistent goal threat and are now weighing up another move for a recognised number nine, with Aghehowa now being eyed.

Aghehowa’s career has surged rapidly since his switch from Atletico Madrid to FC Porto last year. The 21-year-old had already impressed during his loan stint at Deportivo Alaves in the 2023/24 campaign and later added an Olympic gold medal with Spain at the 2024 Paris Games to his growing list of achievements.

Now firmly established as one of Europe’s most lethal young attackers, the Spaniard has delivered remarkable numbers for Porto — scoring 35 goals and providing 3 assists in just 54 appearances across all competitions, including 8 this season.

According to TBR Football, Tottenham have been keeping close tabs on Aghehowa’s progress at the Estadio do Dragao ahead of a potential summer move.

The report adds that newly reinstated sporting director Fabio Paratici is a keen admirer of the three-cap Spain international and has added him to a list of potential centre-forward reinforcements to Thomas Frank’s squad.

Aghehowa to Tottenham

The 21-year-old is contracted to Porto until 2029, so the club are expected to demand a sizeable fee, with the report claiming that the 6ft 3in forward has an £87m release clause in his contract with the 30-time Portuguese champions – although a reduced fee could be agreed due to the club’s financial constraints.

Tottenham are in search of a proven, prolific striker capable of elevating their attacking threat. Despite investing heavily to bring in Dominic Solanke in 2024, the ex-Bournemouth forward is yet to reproduce the goalscoring form he showcased at the Vitality Stadium.

Injuries have hampered his progress, with his last appearance coming in the 2-0 victory over Manchester City in August. What was initially thought to be a short-term absence turned into a lengthy spell on the sidelines after he required surgery.

On the other hand, Randal Kolo Muani is still working his way back to full sharpness, while Richarlison’s recurring fitness issues — coupled with ongoing transfer speculation — have further limited Tottenham’s attacking options.

Aghehowa would be a shrewd acquisition for Thomas Frank, offering both depth in attack and the dependable, clinical striker Spurs have been missing since Harry Kane’s departure in 2023.

Tottenham Hotspur host Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as they look to continue a decent run of form which has seen them go five matches unbeaten in all competitions, the latest result being a 2-1 win over Leeds United a fortnight ago.

Villa have beaten Spurs in their last two meetings, and will be a tough nut to crack owing to a four-match winning streak coming into this game. With that in mind, Thomas Frank will be expected to deploy his best starting eleven including his key players.

Here is a look at how the hosts might line-up for the game this afternoon.

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario is expected to retain his spot in between the sticks.

Defenders – Pedro Porro is having a fairly good season and might be handed a start at right back, whereas there could be a change on the other side of defence with Djed Spence potentially replacing Destiny Udogie at left back.

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, meanwhile, are expected to continue as the central defenders.

Sarr and Richarlison could start

Midfielders – Pape Mata Sarr came off the bench for Tottenham Hotspur in the last match but might return to the starting eleven this time around, possibly featuring in the double pivot alongside Joao Palhinha, whereas Rodrigo Bentancur might be on the bench in spite of resting over the international break.

The team’s attacking midfielder is likely to be Mathys Tel, whereas Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons are likely to continue on the right and left flanks, respectively.

Forward – Richarlison has been in fine form this season and owing to Dominic Solanke’s absence due to injury, the Brazilian international might return to the team as the leader of Spurs’ line.

Here is how Tottenham are likely to look on paper.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keen on re-signing Manchester United target and Bayern Munich ace Harry Kane, as per Spanish outlet Fichajes.

Despite establishing himself as one of the best strikers in the Premier League, the 32-year-old was struggling to win silverware at the Lilywhites. So, he decided to leave a couple of years ago, and the German giant purchased him.

Upon moving to the Allianz Arena, he has already won a Bundesliga title and German Super Cup. Moreover, he has continued to showcase his goal-scoring prowess, scoring the highest number of goals in the German top flight in the last two consecutive seasons.

The Englishman has even enjoyed an excellent start this season, netting 18 goals and registering three assists in only 10 appearances across all competitions.

Now, Fichajes state that Tottenham are keen on bringing back the 6ft 2in tall forward to reinforce the CF position. Although the Lilywhites signed Dominic Solanke by spending a club record fee following Kane’s departure, the former Liverpool man hasn’t been able to fill his void.

Kane still desires to become the highest scorer in the Premier League by breaking Alan Shearer’s record, which could play a key part in his decision to return to English football.

Battle

Man Utd are planning to upgrade the centre-forward position and have expressed their interest in signing Kane. However, Tottenham are ready to spend around £70m to sign the striker by defeating the Red Devils in this race.

After purchasing Benjamin Sesko this summer, the Red Devils currently have the Slovenian and Joshua Zirkzee as striker options. However, the Dutchman has found it difficult to play regularly thus far this season, so he is said to be open to leaving.

Kane is one of the best forwards in the world and would be a great acquisition for Man Utd should they purchase him. His addition would even help Sesko to develop.

On the other hand, Solanke has been out injured in recent months, and Richarlison has been playing regularly under Thomas Frank. However, the Brazilian has had injury problems over the years, and it would be the right decision to buy a new striker next year.

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

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are in a battle over the possible transfer of Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo next summer, according to TBR Football.

The 25-year-old has rapidly risen to prominence at the Vitality Stadium this season, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most prolific forwards in England’s top flight, with Bournemouth currently occupying a Champions League position.

Involved in nearly 82% of the Cherries’ goals so far, the Ghanaian has made a compelling case as the driving force that Andoni Iraola’s side had been missing in their pursuit of European football.

Having already scored six times and provided three assists in the league, Semenyo is arguably the most in-form forward in the PL alongside Erling Haaland, inevitably catching the eye of several clubs, including Spurs and the Red Devils.

According to TBR Football, Tottenham are keen on a possible swoop for the London-born England international to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next summer.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank was keen to add the forward to his attacking options during the summer window, but Bournemouth’s steep valuation prevented a deal from happening. However, according to the report, Tottenham plan to reignite their pursuit next year.

Battle

However, Man Utd are set to rival the North London club for Semenyo’s signature, as TBR adds that the Red Devils are also ‘very interested’ in signing the 25-year-old despite already bolstering their frontline in the summer.

Elaborating on Semenyo’s situation, Bournemouth’s stance, and his possible valuation amid interest from United and Spurs, TBR chief correspondent Graeme Bailey said.

‘Bournemouth insist they will not be selling in January, which, of course, they can in theory, but we have to presume they will stick to that.

‘They value the player at well over £70 million anyway, and that would be tough in the January market.

‘Come the summer, the expectation from around the Vitality is that they will sell, but when he does go, it will be a club record.’

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing River Plate defender Lautaro Rivero, as per Spanish outlet Fichajes.

Since joining the Lilywhites a couple of years ago, Micky Van de Ven has established himself as an undisputed starter. However, he struggled with fitness problems over the last two seasons, and during his absence, former manager Ange Postecoglou used Ben Davies and Archie Gray in the left centre-back position.

The Welshman is a left-back by trait, while Gray is a midfielder. Spurs don’t have a natural left-footed centre-back to support the Netherlands international, so it appears Thomas Frank is looking to resolve that next year.

Fichajes state that Tottenham want a young defender to reinforce the defence and have identified Rivero as a serious option, having been impressed by his recent performances.

However, the North London club aren’t the only club interested in the Argentinian as Atletico Madrid are also keen on securing his services next year. Rivero has a £87m release clause in his current contract, which is set to run until 2028. So, River Plate aren’t in any rush to sell him anytime soon.

Tottenham’s transfer strategy is to sign talented young players and provide them with the platform to flourish. Therefore, Rivero fits perfectly into their transfer strategy.

Rivero to Tottenham

The youngster came through the Argentinian giant’s youth system before showcasing his qualities out on loan at Cordoba Central. He returned to River Plate this summer and has been playing regularly.

Having displayed glimpses of his qualities recently, he received the call-up to the Argentina national team for this month’s international break and made his debut against Puerto Rico.

Rivero, standing at 6ft tall, is a highly talented left-footed centre-back and is comfortable playing out from the back. Moreover, he is robust in defensive contributions, so he could be a shrewd acquisition for Tottenham with a view to the long-term future 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 next year. It is highly unlikely that Frank’s side will push forward with a deal to sign the defender if River Plate stay firm on the release clause valuation.