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Manchester United are reportedly battling with Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal over a deal to sign Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes, as per a recent Spanish report.

Although the Red Devils decided to revamp the frontline by purchasing Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha last summer, they lack depth in this position, which has been exposed amid the recent injury problems.

The Brazilian was sidelined with a minor injury over the last two games before returning to action against West Ham in midweek. On the other hand, the Slovenian has sustained a knee problem and is set to be unavailable over the next few weeks.

Moreover, Mbeumo has displayed below-average performances in the last couple of games after enjoying a bright start this season.

Now, Fichajes state that United are planning to add depth in the attacking department and have earmarked Rodrygo as a serious option. The Brazilian’s future at Real Madrid is currently uncertain as he has been on the periphery under Xabi Alonso this season.

Los Blancos might be ready to allow his departure for a fee of around £70m next year, and Rodrygo could be open to leaving to play regularly in order to secure his place in the Brazil national team squad for next summer’s World Cup. However, Real Madrid don’t want to part ways with him in mid-season.

Battle

The report say that apart from Man Utd, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City are interested in the forward as well, with Spurs currently ‘frontrunners’ in this race. Moreover, the Lilywhites have already held talks with the player’s representatives to finalise the deal by defeating other clubs.

Like United, Spurs have also endured a woeful campaign thus far this season, languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table with 19 points from 14 matches.

Although Mohammed Kudus has been bright this season, Spurs’ left flank have been in a state of flux. So, they could do with upgrading this position, and Rodrygo would be a great coup should they manage to secure his service, as he is considered one of the best young attackers in the world.

Meanwhile, Arsenal currently have enough resources in their frontline and don’t need to add further depth unless anyone leaves in January or next summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have earmarked Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen as a possible replacement for Guglielmo Vicario, according to Graeme Bailey.

Since arriving from Empoli in the summer of 2023, Vicario has held the No. 1 spot for Spurs, amassing 94 appearances in all competitions, conceding 132 goals, and recording 23 shut-outs.

The Italian shot-stopper endured a turbulent campaign, mixing exceptional displays with costly, inexperienced mistakes.

On the other hand, second-choice goalkeeper Antonín Kinsky has had minimal involvement, featuring only on two occasions in the Carabao Cup, where they crashed out in the fourth round.

With a run of poor results and a drop in form across individual performances, Spurs are looking to make adequate reinforcements, including in the goalkeeping department, with Verbruggen now eyed.

This is according to Graeme Bailey, who claims that Tottenham are monitoring several goalkeeping options and are ‘huge admirers’ of Brighton’s Verbruggen.

Writing on TEAMtalk, the journalist claims that incessant errors by first-choice shot-stopper Vicario have put enormous pressure on him, and that he is now attracting interest from clubs abroad, including AC Milan.

As a result, Spurs have been evaluating several goalkeepers and previously reported the club’s interest in Manchester City’s James Trafford.

Shotstopper

The latest to be linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is Verbruggen, according to TEAMtalk, which claims that the 6ft 4in shotstopper has ‘hugely impressed’ the North London outfit ahead of a possible move in 2026, with Bayern Munich also interested.

The report adds that while Brighton are aware it’ll be a daunting task to keep the 23-year-old at the AMEX Stadium beyond the current season, they remain keen on retaining the goalkeeper amid interest from Tottenham.

Fulham’s second strike last Saturday stemmed from yet another mistake by Vicario, as he rushed beyond his box while in possession and then handed the ball straight to the hosts with a mis-hit clearance.

Some Tottenham fans voiced their frustration moments later, greeting the 29-year-old with boos the next time the ball came his way.

Although he kept his position for Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle, uncertainty still surrounds his long-range prospects at Spurs, and the lack of visible progress has pushed the club to explore alternative options, which include Verbruggen.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keen on signing Brighton and Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke, as per TEAMtalk.

The 25-year-old moved to AMEX Stadium from Eredivisie side NAC Breda back in 2020. Initially, he couldn’t break into the first team squad and went out on loan on a couple of occasions to play regularly and develop his career.

However, he has now established himself as an undisputed starter in Fabian Hurzeler’s starting line-up, commencing all 14 Premier League matches thus far this season. He has netted three goals, including a midweek brace against Aston Villa, and has helped his side keep three clean sheets.

Having displayed his qualities in the Premier League, Van Hecke has secured his place in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands national team squad.

Now, TEAMtalk claim that Tottenham are planning to revamp the squad next year under sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange’s supervision and purchasing a new centre-back is on their agenda.

Spurs have registered their interest in Van Hecke after monitoring his performances closely. They wanted him last summer and remain keen on signing him.

However, purchasing the defender won’t be straightforward for the North London club, as Brighton always play hardball to sell their star players.

Van Hecke to Tottenham

The player has entered the final 19 months of his current contract, and the Seagulls want to keep hold of him by tying him down to a fresh term. However, if Hurzeler’s side are eventually forced to cash-in on him next year, they may demand around £40m.

Van Hecke, standing at 6ft 2in tall, is a technically gifted player and is extremely comfortable playing out from the back. Moreover, he has an aggressive character and possesses the necessary qualities to flourish at the highest level.

The Lilywhites currently have Micky Van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso, and Radu Dragusin as the centre-back options. However, the Romanian has been out with a serious knee injury over the last few months.

Therefore, signing a new centre-back would be the right decision for Tottenham, and Van Hecke might be a shrewd acquisition 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 in January or next summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are enduring a terrible run of form in the Premier League with no win in their last five outings, and their creativity in midfield has been a cause of particular concern since Thomas Frank joined from Brentford earlier this year.

Dejan Kulusevski has not been available to the Dane yet owing to fitness worries, whereas James Maddison’s ACL injury means he will also be out for the near future. Meanwhile, the rest of their central midfielders are not as impactful in the final third.

According to TEAMtalk, Spurs are planning a spending spree on midfielders in next summer’s transfer window and have identified Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace youngster Adam Wharton as potential signings for 2026.

Spurs need massive investments on the duo

If Tottenham Hotspur want to materialise their interest in Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba, they will need to pay huge sums for both players, especially as the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are also eyeing them.

Baleba is valued at £53 million on Transfermarkt, whereas Wharton’s valuation stands at £52 million. However, it is expected that Tottenham would have to spend in excess of £105 million to seal transfers for both of their targets.

Having said that, the midfielders have shown that they are possible of being worthy investments and with injury as well as age problems surrounding the Spurs midfield, it would not come as a surprise if the board funds two major signings.

Tottenham Hotspur have expressed interest in signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, as per Fichajes.

Gallagher amassed 136 Premier League appearances during his time in England, with the bulk arriving for Chelsea across the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 campaigns.

He has played 67 matches for Atletico since his move from Chelsea and has taken part in every game this season.

However, he has fallen behind Pablo Barrios in the pecking order, having started only two La Liga games this season, with his last start coming in September.

Having missed Thomas Tuchel’s last three England call-ups, the midfielder could be considering a possible departure in January to gain more playing time, especially with the 2026 World Cup just six months away.

According to Fichajes, Tottenham have now emerged as ‘strong contenders’ to sign Gallagher in January to bolster Thomas Frank’s midfield ranks.

The report adds that Atletico would want up to £52m for the England international, and Spurs are willing to match that valuation to sign Gallagher in the January transfer window.

However, the North London club faces stern competition for Gallagher’s signature, as the Spanish outlet claims that Premier League rivals Everton are also keen on the 25-year-old, as they believe his experience in the top flight and ability to play from deep would be key proponents to bolster their squad.

On the other hand, Newcastle United have also renewed their interest in the England international’s signature on a possible loan deal, as per the report.

Gallagher to Tottenham

Unless a new competitor emerges, Tottenham are expected to get the deal done, as Atletico will unlikely consider Newcastle’s loan proposal. At the same time, Everton’s financial constraints could make an agreement difficult in January, leaving Spurs as the most likely club to get the deal done.

Thomas Frank has mainly utilised Palhinha, Bergvall and Bentancur as his preferred midfield trio, with Sarr alternating between them.

However, inconsistencies have been one of the major causes of their lacklustre performances that have seen them drop to the second half of the Premier League table.

The addition of another defensive midfielder may not have been a priority in January, but after yet another poor showing of Bentancur against Newcastle, where he had fewer passes into the final third than goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, the club need to consider a move for a more reliable and consistent midfielder like Gallagher to add more steel to their squad who is also capable of shielding the backline against attacking onslaughts.

Tottenham Hotspur scored two equalisers on Tuesday night as they were held to a draw by Newcastle United in the Premier League, where they have fallen to 11th place in the standings after a fifth winless result on the bounce.

Cristian Romero of all people rose to the occasion in a match where the team lacked much creativity in midfield or quality to finish off a very limited number of chances in the final third, two attributes for which Thomas Frank is already being criticised.

According to TEAMtalk, the former Brentford boss is already under pressure and Tottenham have identified Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner as a potential replacement for him, should they decide to terminate Frank’s contract.

Glasner has made Crystal Palace look like a very exciting team on the attack, while they haven’t looked like putting a foot wrong at the back either and with an FA Cup under his belt, it comes as no surprise that the Austrian is being considered by Tottenham.

Glasner ideal for Frank

If Tottenham Hotspur relieve Thomas Frank of his duties in the near future, Oliver Glasner would be a brilliant addition as his superb man management will help a possibly unsettled dressing room to regain its form.

Spurs have enough defenders to play a three-man backline, which Glasner prefers, and with investments to ensue in midfield in the next few months, they could soon be a squad which would thrive under the Crystal Palace manager’s tactical system.

His wingers also tend to play closer to goal, so Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons will be able to contribute with the output in the final third more consistently, while the team’s structured pressing would make Tottenham stay organised without the ball too.

While Glasner is expected to leave Palace for a bigger club sooner rather than later, it is difficult to imagine that the Eagles will be willing to let go of him midway through the campaign, more so in the winter, when the season is in a decisive phase.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ‘very interested’ in signing Brentford striker Igor Thiago, as per Caught Offside.

The Bees purchased the Brazilian ahead of last season to replace Ivan Toney. However, he couldn’t serve his club properly last term due to injury problems, making only one Premier League start.

This season, he has displayed impressive performances thus far, scoring 12 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions. Brentford are currently in mid-table with 18 points from 13 games in the league.

Now, Caught Offside claim that Tottenham are showing a strong interest in signing the 24-year-old after monitoring his development closely. However, the Lilywhites aren’t the only club interested in the South American as Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also plotting a swoop.

Unai Emery wants a new striker as a long-term replacement for Ollie Watkins. On the other hand, the Magpies are looking at the Brazilian as Yoane Wissa has struggled with fitness problems thus far this season.

Brentford don’t want to part ways with Thiago in January, but they are ‘highly likely’ to receive a proposal from Spurs, Newcastle, or Aston Villa for his signature. Thomas Frank’s side even want him on an initial loan deal with an option to make the move permanent next summer.

Thiago to Tottenham

The forward still has three and a half years left in his current contract, and his potential suitors are hoping to sign him for around £35m. However, Brentford usually play hardball to sell their star players, and they would likely demand more than that sum to allow his departure next year.

Tottenham enjoyed a bright start under Frank this season, but have been struggling in recent weeks, failing to win in their last six consecutive domestic matches and losing four.

The Danish boss likes to use a powerful No.9, who can hold up play. However, with Dominic Solanke out injured, Spurs don’t have another striker of a similar profile, as Mathys Tel, Richarlison, and Randal Kolo Muani aren’t target men.

So, Thiago might be a shrewd acquisition for the North London club should they eventually manage to secure his service in January or next summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keen on signing Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford, as per TEAMtalk.

After impressing in the Championship with Burnley last term and helping them gain promotion, the 23-year-old returned to his former club last summer, hoping to establish himself as the first-choice option.

He even started the first three Premier League games for Man City this season, but since Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival, Trafford has been demoted to the second-fiddle role.

Now, TEAMtalk claim that the youngster has become frustrated with his current situation at the Etihad Stadium and is keen on leaving to play regularly and develop his career.

Tottenham have expressed their interest in signing the Englishman and could open talks over this deal soon. Spurs are prepared to replace Guglielmo Vicario following his recent inconsistent performances and are ready to accept around £30m, with Inter Milan showing an interest in the Italian.

Trafford is valued at around £26m by Transfermarkt and still has a contract until 2030 with Man City. So, the Citizens are expected to demand a big fee to let him leave.

However, the report claim that purchasing Trafford won’t be straightforward for the North London club as Newcastle United are also keen on him. The Magpies initially wanted him last summer before his move to the Etihad Stadium.

Trafford to Tottenham

After missing out on him, Newcastle decided to sign Aaron Ramsdale on a loan deal to support Nick Pope. However, it appears the Magpies don’t want to sign the former Arsenal goalkeeper permanently and are planning to revive interest in Trafford.

Trafford, standing at 6ft 6in tall, is comfortable playing out from the back, is an excellent shot-stopper and is also good in the air. The youngster is a highly talented player and could be a shrewd acquisition for Spurs 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 in January or next summer.

A spectacular overhead finish from Cristian Romero in the 95th minute salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw for Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park, easing some of the growing pressure on Thomas Frank.

What looked set to become a sixth loss in eight games for Spurs flipped in stoppage time as their skipper once again delivered at the decisive moment.

Earlier, Romero had already levelled the contest after Bruno Guimaraes struck shortly after the interval, and when Newcastle failed to clear a late corner, the 27-year-old saved a point for his side with an acrobatic effort.

Only four centre-backs have achieved the feat of netting a double in the Premier League this season — and two of those came from Spurs: Cristian Romero against Newcastle and Micky van de Ven against Everton.

Before that strike, Newcastle appeared to be on course for a third straight Premier League victory, especially after substitute Anthony Gordon converted a late penalty to push them 2-1 ahead.

Even so, Tottenham displayed admirable resilience and claimed a vital draw, ensuring Frank’s team remains one place above Newcastle in 11th.

As the game wore on, Tottenham gradually asserted themselves, and Romero was at the thick of things, finishing the game with 54 touches while also winning possession for his side five times across the whole duration of the game.

‘Top performance’

In what was a complete captain’s performance, the Argentine centre-back was crucial for Spurs at both ends of the pitch. At the back, he won a sky-high six duels and made five clearances and three tackles against a Newcastle side that constantly kept knocking.

There were numerous occasions last season when former head coach Ange Postecoglou would send Romero forward to occupy the no. 9 position. Thomas Frank might consider the same initiative amid his team’s misfiring attack, as Romero showed real attacking prowess, netting two incredible goals, which were Spurs’ only two shots on target in the game.

Speaking about Romero’s display, Frank said, ‘I think that was the perfect bicycle kick, hit with the shin, aiming for the bottom corner.

‘Praising Cuti, I think he deserves that. A top performance defending. On the ball: coolness, calmness, duels, then get up there and score two goals.

Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat to Fulham at the weekend saw them lose for a third time on the trot, whereas in the Premier League, they are winless in their last four matches ahead of tonight’s tricky away trip to Newcastle United.

Spurs are currently 12th in the league standings and if things don’t improve soon, Thomas Frank’s continuity at the club could come under serious scrutiny, especially with the Lilywhites chasing a Champions League spot.

With that in mind, former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has emerged as a potential replacement for Frank, according to Fichajes, although Tottenham face competition from Manchester United, who view him as Ruben Amorim’s possible successor.

Xavi has not taken up a new role since being sacked by Barca in 2024, so he is available to get going immediately should there be a change in Tottenham’s dugout, which is why he is viewed as an attractive option by the Londoners.

Xavi a worthy candidate for Spurs

Given that he succeeded at Barcelona in a short stint, most notably winning La Liga, Xavi Hernandez would be a decent appointment for Tottenham Hotspur, who require a better man manager as well as a manager who can improve their offence.

Although injuries have played their part under Thomas Frank, Spurs’ attacking options have simply not been up to the mark and for the quality they have on paper, the board will feel that the first team is severely underperforming in the the final third.

Under Xavi, Barcelona were excellent going forward and a high line meant they were able to dominate possession in the opposing half. With the defensive qualities Tottenham have, they are well-equipped to play in the Spaniard’s tactical setup.

It will be interesting to see how much time Thomas Frank has at Tottenham Hotspur as the festive stretch of fixtures will see the team play a handful of matches, which could go a long way in deciding where they end the season in the table next year.