FootballFanCast

So far, this summer is shaping up rather well for Tottenham Hotspur.

While unpopular with some fans, Daniel Levy and Co were quick to get rid of Ange Postecoglou and bring in Thomas Frank, in turn giving him plenty of time to get his feet under the table.

Moreover, Mathys Tel's loan was made permanent for a reasonable sum of £30m; the exciting Luka Vuskovic has finally joined the squad, and the exceptionally gifted Mohammed Kudus was signed for around £55m.

However, the North Londoners are yet to complete the complicated signing of Morgan Gibbs-White, and while they are likely to do so, they've also been linked with another star who would be an even better addition to the squad.

Spurs target international ace who'd be a better signing than Gibbs-White

It was mid-way through this month, a day after signing Kudus, that Spurs reportedly activated the £60m release clause in Gibbs-White's Nottingham Forest contract.

However, since then, the Tricky Trees have blocked the move and have accused both the Lilywhites and the player's representatives of breaking the rules when approaching him over the move, and have even threatened legal action.

However, it does feel like this is a deal that will eventually happen, and there have even been reports of Levy and Co preparing an improved £65m offer to make it so.

The 25-year-old would be a great addition to Frank's team, of that there is no doubt, but it now appears that the club are eyeing another player who would be an even better signing.

At least that is according to a recent report from AfricaFoot, which claims that Spurs are one of several teams interested in Evann Guessand.

In fact, the report reveals that, while they've slowed somewhat recently, the Lilywhites are in talks with OGC Nice about the striker.

The other teams keen on the dangerous forward include Newcastle United, Fenerbahçe and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and while it's not clear exactly how much he'd cost, he is valued at €25m on Transfermarkt, which is about £22m.

Guessand might not be as big a name as Gibbs-White, but not only would he be worth signing, but he'd be a better signing for Spurs than Gibbs-White.

Why Guessand would be a better signing than Gibbs-White

So, the first thing to say, and this is important, is that Spurs should sign both players, as Gibbs-White is undeniably talented and would surely improve Frank's squad.

However, at this moment in time, Guessand would be the better signing, and the reason is simply that the North Londoners need another striker far more than they need another attacking midfielder.

For example, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski were among the club's best players last season, with the former scoring 12 goals and providing 11 assists in 45 games, and the latter tallying ten goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances.

In contrast, the former Wolves ace managed to score seven goals and provide ten assists in 38 appearances, so while he would certainly be a great addition to the team, he'd have to outperform the incredible midfielders to get into his preferred position.

In contrast, the Nice star would realistically only have to contend with Dominic Solanke for game time, especially if Richarlison returns to Brazil, and based on their output last season, we reckon he'd be great competition for the Englishman.

For example, in 42 appearances, totalling 3075 minutes, the "electric" Ivorian international, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored 13 goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to a brilliant average of a goal involvement every 1.82 games, or every 133.69 minutes.

The former Bournemouth man, on the other hand, scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3393 minutes, which actually comes out to a slightly worse average of a goal involvement every 1.87 games, or every 141.37.

Add to that the fact he's still just 24 years old and capable of playing off the right as well, and it's easy to see the Ajaccio-born star, who The Athletic's Alex Barker dubbed "one of the best young attackers" around, getting plenty of game time next season and beyond.

Ultimately, both Gibbs-White and Guessand would be excellent signings for Spurs, but we see the latter playing far more for the club next season, and therefore, he'd be the better addition.

It's been an interesting summer for Tottenham Hotspur so far.

The club were quick to fire Ange Postecoglou and appoint Thomas Frank, but as things stand, have made just one genuine new first-team addition in Mohammed Kudus.

Compare that to fellow 'big six' side Liverpool, for example, and it simply doesn't look like enough, as they've already signed stars like Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong.

Moreover, the Reds now appear set to land the goalscoring extraordinaire Hugo Ekitiké, although, based on reports, Spurs could be looking to sign someone who has been compared to him, someone who is also an Arsenal target.

Spurs target the next Ekitike

While there is some understandable frustration from some Spurs fans this summer due to Kudus being the only new genuine first-team signing so far, there are still reasons to be positive.

For example, Daniel Levy and Co still seem intent on signing Morgan Gibbs-White, with some reports claiming that they're set to make another improved offer of £65m, perhaps in a bid to placate and smooth things over with Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis.

Moreover, the North Londoners have continued to invest in promising youngsters, with Japanese centre-back Kota Takai joining for £5m, Mathys Tel making his move permanent for £30m and Croatian defender Vuskovic finally joining up with the first team after spending the last two years out on loan.

In fact, the club appear intent on adding even more promising prospects to the squad this summer, including one who could become their own Ekitike.

At least that's according to a recent report from Sébastien Vidal, who claims Spurs are interested in Mainz gem Nelson Weiper.

The journalist has revealed that the Lilywhites have now joined the list of clubs keen on the Germany U21 star, a list that includes rivals Arsenal.

Vidal has revealed that an offer of €14m - £12m - should be enough to tempt the Bundesliga side into selling their exciting prospect this summer.

It might sound like a lot of money for someone relatively unknown in England, but Weiper looks like he could be something special, and he's already been compared to the incredible Ekitike.

Why Weiper could be Spurs' future Ekitike

So, the first place to start is with the most concrete comparison to Ekitike, as we are well aware that it might sound a little absurd to compare an up-and-coming striker with someone who is set to cost £79m.

The comparison itself stems from FBref, which analysed players in Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League, and the Europa League over the last 365 days, and concluded that the French phenom is the second most similar forward to the Mainz ace.

While it might be hard to believe, the best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by exploring some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked closely.

While he still has plenty of developing to do, the fact the 20-year-old was able to take as many shots on target as Ekitike in the top-flight for a team that finished sixth is seriously impressive, and suggests he could become a real threat in dangerous areas.

In fact, you don't even have to speculate too much, as across his junior career he has been a seriously prolific striker.

For example, in just 19 games for Mainz's under-19s, he's scored 22 goals and provided one assist, and in just 474 minutes for Germany's U21s, he has scored four goals and provided one assist.

Ultimately, there is always going to be an element of risk in signing someone so young, but with the fee needed beingf relativley low, his impressive numbers and the compariosons to Ekitike, this feels like a risk worth taking for Spurs.

Tottenham Hotspur are now in contact to sign a £70m Premier League "superstar", who is keen to leave his club this summer, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed.

Spurs set sights on new forward

It appears as though Son Heung-min is set to remain at N17 for at least one more season, although former scout Mick Brown has suggested Tottenham could look at replacing the forward in the near future, given that he is no longer the player he once was.

Brown said: "You look at his stats last year, they were nowhere near as good as they were the year before, but you know what type of player you’re getting.

"With just one year left on his contract, there’s more value in keeping him for a Champions League and Premier League campaign rather than selling him now. You don’t really want to lose that type of player and what Sonny can offer you."

Consequently, it may be time for Thomas Frank to start running the rule over potential long-term replacements for Son, and Southampton's Tyler Dibling has recently been identified as a potential option.

However, Spurs are also targeting a current Premier League player, according to Bailey, who recently told The Boot Room: “Alejandro Garnacho wants to stay in England, and there are only so many options. Chelsea, we know, like him, whilst Tottenham have maintained contact."

There may also be rival interest from Aston Villa, with Unai Emery's side making contact over Garnacho, who is valued at around £70m, and Bailey states the winger would be open to a move to Villa Park.

One thing that is clear is that the Man United forward is likely to be on the move this summer, having already informed his current employers that he wants to leave.

"Superstar" Garnacho could reignite career at Tottenham

At 21-years-old, the United ace is still very young, with plenty of time to fulfill his lofty potential, and journalist Liam Canning believes the youngster is already a "superstar".

The 2024-25 season was, of course, very difficult for the Red Devils, with Spurs ultimately coming out on top in the Europa League final, but the Argentina international still managed to impress at times, amassing 21 goal contributions in all competitions.

Ruben Amorim was also left impressed by the starlet, praising him for his performance in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal: "I think Garnacho made a really complete game. He was upset last Thursday and today, he was amazing."

As such, United's loss could be Tottenham's gain this summer, and Garnacho's ability to play on the left-wing could make him a solid long-term replacement for Son.

West Ham United have now submitted an offer for a £34m "revelation", who is also a target for Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, according to a report.

West Ham set sights on midfielder amid Soucek uncertainty

Tomas Soucek has been a key player for West Ham ever since his arrival, with the midfielder featuring in a minimum of 35 Premier League games in each of the last five seasons, but there has been speculation over his future at the London Stadium for quite some time.

With the Toffees now set to make a bid for the 30-year-old, the Hammers have started running the rule over potential replacements, and Bayer Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka was recently identified as a target.

The former Arsenal man could be a solid option, given that he has already proven himself in England, but the Switzerland international is not the only ex-Premier League player on the Irons' shortlist.

According to a report from Gazzetta Dello Sport (via West Ham Zone), West Ham have now tabled an offer for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, having emerged as one of the clubs most keen on securing his signature, alongside Everton.

The Italian club had been hoping to receive a fee of £34m for the former Aston Villa man, but given that he has failed to impress since making the move to Italy, they may be forced to cash-in at a lower price.

In order to get a deal over the line, the Hammers may also have to fend off interest from bitter rivals Tottenham, who recently held internal talks about signing Luiz.

Luiz could be "revelation" at West Ham

Any club would find it difficult to replace Declan Rice, although Soucek has stepped up in the England international's absence, recording the third-highest average rating of any West Ham player in the Premier League last term.

However, with the Czechia international now edging closer to Everton, it could make sense to bring in a new midfielder with similar qualities to Rice, and the Juventus midfielder certainly fits the bill in that regard.

Much like Rice, the 27-year-old is a very well-rounded midfielder, impressing in both an attacking and defensive sense for Villa during the 2023-24 campaign.

Next season is shaping up to be a massively important one for Tottenham Hotspur.

New boss Thomas Frank has the job of improving and stabilising the club in the Premier League, while also ensuring they put in a good showing in the Champions League.

Fortunately, things have been going rather well so far this summer, with a win in their first pre-season game against Reading and an excellent performance from new signing Mohammed Kudus.

However, with the window open for another month or so, the North Londoners need to do more business, and it looks like they will, with them looking to sign someone who could be their answer to Xavi Simons.

Spurs target their own Simons

Simons has been grabbing plenty of headlines over the last week or so, as it looks like he'll be leaving RB Leipzig this summer.

Spurs have been linked with him in recent days, but as things stand, it looks like London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal are the most likely to secure his services.

While seeing a talented player go to your rivals is never ideal, the Lilywhites faithful shouldn't fret, as it appears that they're going big for someone who could be Frank's answer to the Dutchman.

At least that's according to a recent report from Sébastien Vidal, who claims Spurs are still very interested in signing Morgan Gibbs-White.

In fact, the journalist has revealed that the North Londoners "are preparing a final offer of £65m" for the England international.

It remains to be seen whether this will be enough, as Nottingham Forest have made it clear they do not want to sell the midfielder, and have even threatened the European League champions with legal action after they 'triggered a reported £60m release clause.'

It could end up being a complicated and costly transfer to get done, but Gibbs-White has proven he's worth the hassle, especially as he could be Frank's answer to Simons.

Why Gibbs-White could be Spurs' Simons

So, while it's true that there are some differences between the two players, it's also undeniable that they share a lot in common, such as their position.

For example, both players are now primarily viewed as attacking midfielders, but they can, and often do, play in other positions.

In the Dutchman's case, he's more than capable of playing across the frontline, while the Englishman can drop deeper into central midfield, or put in a shift on the right-wing, where he has 11 goal involvements in 24 games.

The second similarity is that both players are incredibly effective in their respective teams and look like they could reach another level in a better side.

For example, the "world-class" Forest ace, as dubbed by one Forest content creator, found the back of the net seven times and provided ten assists in just 34 league appearances last season, which works out to a goal involvement on average every other game.

For his efforts, the former PSV Eindhoven star scored ten goals and provided seven assists in 25 league games, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.47 games.

Now, it's certainly true that the 22-year-old's numbers look better here, but it's essential to take into consideration that the Premier League is comfortably the toughest league in the world, while the Bundesliga just about comes in as the third, and a distant one at that.

Finally, should the Lilywhites get their man, and Arsenal or Chelsea secure the former Paris Saint-Germain gem, then they'd both be making their way to a London-based 'big six' side, which will only invite more comparisons between them.

Ultimately, while it could prove difficult, Spurs should do what they can to sign Gibbs-White this summer, as he seems ready to explode at the right club, and he'd be a perfect answer to whoever signs Simons.

Tottenham Hotspur are now "seriously" keen on signing an "unstoppable" attacking midfielder as an "alternative" to RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons, journalist Sebastien Vidal has revealed.

Spurs step up pursuit of new attacking midfielder

Tottenham will be disappointed not to have a deal for an attacking midfielder wrapped up by now, having triggered the £60m release clause in Morgan Gibbs-White's Nottingham Forest contract, although there is a still a strong chance he ends up at N17.

That is according to Football Insider's transfer correspondent Pete O'Rourke, who said: "He was due to take a medical last week, and then Forest obviously put these hurdles up.

"Gibbs-White has had to go back to Forest to continue pre-season training this week as well, when he thought in his head he was going to be a Spurs player.

"The player has his heart set on a move to Spurs, and we expect that will happen once an agreement is made between Forest and Tottenham."

However, the Forest star is not the only option on the shortlist, with it recently being revealed that RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons has "begun talks" to join Spurs, although there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Chelsea and Arsenal also keen.

The Lilywhites' London rivals have also entered negotiations with Simons' representatives, meaning it could be difficult to get a deal for the Dutchman over the line, and a perhaps more attainable target from the Premier League is also being considered.

That is according to Vidal on X, who states Tottenham are "seriously eyeing Jacob Ramsey as a potential alternative to Xavi Simons".

Ramsey is viewed as a "dynamic" and "creative" midfielder, and Spurs are "very keen" on securing his signature, but a deal is likely to be on the expensive side, given that the Aston Villa man is valued at £50m by his current employers.

"Unstoppable" Ramsey impressing at Villa

There are some signs the Villa attacker could be a solid alternative option to Simons, with Jamie Carragher singling him out for praise last season, saying: "He is a machine this fella. You see him open up his legs and run. He almost looks unstoppable."

The 24-year-old also caught the eye in the Champions League, proving to be a constant threat in his side's 3-0 victory against Young Boys.

That said, the Birmingham-born ace wasn't exactly prolific in the Premier League, with Simons and Gibbs-White getting on the scoresheet much more regularly in the 2024-25 campaign.

As such, Ramsey should only be targeted if Tottenham miss out on both Gibbs-White and Simons.

Tottenham Hotspur are now very keen on signing an "incredible" £50m forward who's been likened to Chelsea star Cole Palmer, according to a report.

Spurs eyeing new forward amid Son uncertainty

Thomas Frank has recently implied that Tottenham will soon have to make a big decision about Son Heung-min's future, with the manager saying: "Right now I have a player that is fully committed and training well, and will play tomorrow. If a player has been at a club a long time, then there will always be a decision for the club to take, of course.

"Because, there is something in it if someone wants to leave at a certain stage. But the club will always decide in the end, of course."

It doesn't appear that a move will be on the cards in the near future, with Son clearly still a part of Frank's plans, but given that the South Korean is now 33-years-old, it could make sense to bring in a long-term replacement this summer.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Spurs are in talks for Brentford's Yoane Wissa, who could be a like-for-like replacement for Son, given that he is able to play at both left-wing and through the middle.

However, Wissa is not the only winger of interest to the Lilywhites, with a report from EFL Analysis revealing that Tottenham are very keen on signing Southampton's Tyler Dibling, but a deal will be on the expensive side.

Despite suffering relegation from the Premier League last season, the Saints are set to hold out for a fee of £50m, showcasing just how highly Dibling is rated at St. Mary's.

There may be fierce competition for the winger's signature, with Manchester United, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest also named as potential suitors, while the 19-year-old could be tempted to remain at Southampton if he believes promotion is possible.

"Incredible" Dibling likened to Palmer

The Saints were relegated without putting up much of a fight last season, but the youngster still managed to catch the eye, with Dion Dublin even comparing him to Chelsea star Palmer.

Dublin said: "Do you know what it is? I don't want to put any pressure on him, but he plays his game like Cole Palmer, doesn't he?He plays free and easy, and he gets himself into good positions, rolls players and takes the ball well."

Reporter Alfie House was also left impressed by the teenager's displays, describing him as "incredible" last November, indicating the winger could make a real impact at N17.

£50m is a large fee to shell out for a player who is yet to establish himself at the top level, but Dibling enjoyed an impressive breakthrough season in the Premier League, and a move to north London could be of great appeal, with Champions League football on offer.

Tottenham Hotspur recently splashed the cash to sign Mohammed Kudus from London and Premier League rivals West Ham United for a reported fee of £55m.

The 24-year-old star, who provided an assist in a friendly against Reading on Saturday, will be hoping to offer a big threat at the top end of the pitch for Thomas Frank's side next season.

He will need to improve on his output from the 2024/25 campaign, though, as the Ghana international only managed five goals and three assists in 32 games as a winger or attacking midfielder for the Hammers. Kudus did produce 14 goals and six assists in all competitions in his first season in England, though, so it is more of an issue around consistency rather than quality.

Tottenham, meanwhile, are reportedly eyeing up a deal for another proven Premier League player who would be an even better signing than the £55m addition.

Spurs in talks to sign Premier League star

Whilst Kudus is somewhat of a gamble, given his unimpressive return in front of goal last term, Spurs are also eyeing a top-flight star who was superb last season and could come in to hit the ground running.

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham Hotspur are willing to pay the full asking price for Bournemouth central defender Illya Zabarnyi to bolster their options at the back.

The report claims that the Lilywhites are already in talks to reach an agreement to sign the Ukraine international, and that they are prepared to pay what is required, which is said to be around £61m.

It adds that Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on the defender and have had multiple offers turned down by the Premier League side, as they have only offered up to around £52m.

Caught Offside reveals, though, that Zabarnyi favours a move to PSG and the French side are confident that they can complete a deal, which makes it a difficult one for Spurs to get over the line.

Why Spurs should sign Zabarnyi

Tottenham should continue to push to convince the centre-back to make the switch to London this summer, though, because he would be an even better signing than Kudus.

The club's need for an extra body at the heart of the defence is obvious when you look at the time that Cristian Romero and Micky Van De Ven have missed in the last two seasons.

As you can see in the table above, Zabarnyi has not missed a single game through injury in his two seasons in the Premier League, which suggests that he would be the reliable centre-back option Frank is currently missing.

His performances in the top-flight last season also suggest that the Ukraine international has the quality to hit the ground running as an instant star for the Lilywhites.

Pundit Jamie Redknapp claimed that Zabarnyi, who was once described as a "complete" defender by Jacek Kulig, went "under the radar" with his performances, as the defender won 63% of his duels and made zero errors that led to goals in 36 starts in the division.

The 22-year-old colossus is a reliable, error-free, and dominant central defender who rarely gets injured and always delivers on the pitch, which is exactly what Spurs need at the back.

This is why Zabarnyi, if Spurs can get a deal done, would be an even better signing than Kudus, who is coming off a disappointing season and may not hit the ground running as an instant star, as the Bournemouth gem could do based on his form last term.

Tottenham Hotspur continued their preparations for the 2025/26 campaign with a trip to Reading to face the League One side in a friendly on Saturday.

Thomas Frank's side beat the third tier outfit 2-0 on the day and there was a second-half debut for new signing Mohammed Kudus, who created four chances and assisted a goal.

The left-footed forward arrived from fellow Premier League side West Ham United earlier this month, and caught the eye with an impressive showing in his first outing for the club.

Kudus cleverly cut the ball back for Luka Vuskovic to wrap the ball into the far bottom corner, whilst it was also his corner that led to Will Lankshear's goal.

It was an excellent first showing by the former Hammers star against Reading, but he was not the only 'new' player to catch the eye as the scorer in the post above has created excitement among Spurs supporters.

Tottenham agreed to sign the centre-back from Hajduk Split in 2023 but had to wait until this summer for it to officially go through, and he looks to be an exciting talent.

Why Luka Vuskovic is an exciting talent

Vuskovic got Spurs fans excited with his performance against Reading on Saturday, as the central defender scored and assisted a goal from the heart of the defence.

Supporters may also be excited about the 18-year-old talent because of his performances on loan with Westerlo in the Belgian Pro League during the 2024/25 campaign.

Incredibly, the teenage defender ended the season with a haul of seven goals and two assists in 36 league appearances as a centre-back for the Belgian side, suggesting that his attacking exploits against Reading were not a surprise to those who knew about his talents.

As you can see in the table above, Vuskovic did not make tackles and interceptions at a particularly eye-catching rate, but he was dominant in his duels on the ground and in the air.

Whilst these statistics, in terms of his goal output and dominance in duels, are largely impressive, the Croatia international is yet to prove himself at the top level, as he has only been capped once by his country and has yet to play in a major league.

Overall, Vuskovic is a player who supporters can get excited about for the future, but they may also have to be realistic about what his role could be in the short-term, given his lack of experience at the top level.

Meanwhile, Spurs are reportedly interested in signing another player in his position who could come in as an even bigger talent for Frank to work with.

Spurs lining up move for Italian defender

Speaking on the Last Word on Spurs podcast, as relayed by The Boy Hotspur, journalist Ben Jacobs revealed the club are eyeing up a potential swoop for Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini.

The reporter said: "Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the Italian defender Giorgio Scalvini during the summer transfer window. The 21-year-old is highly rated across Europe, and he’s on the radar of multiple clubs this summer… He is likely to cost around €60 million (£52m).”

However, Jacobs did not reveal whether or not Spurs are prepared to meet Atalanta's £52m asking price, or if they are likely to make an official approach for the Italy international, but they are seemingly lining up a move if they decide to act on their interest.

They could face competition for his signature if they do decide to make a move for him, though, as Newcastle United have also been linked with an interest in the 21-year-old colossus.

If Tottenham are able to strike an agreement with the Serie A outfit for the £52m-rated star, Frank could have an even bigger talent than Vuskovic to work with.

Why Scalvini is an even bigger talent than Vuskovic

Scalvini is three years older than the Croatian defender but was already playing in a major league and had been capped multiple times by Italy at the age of 18.

He made his debut against Germany at the age of 18 and was capped three times by his country before his 19th birthday in December 2022, whilst the centre-back also made his Serie A debut at the age of 17.

Scalvini played over 50 games in the Serie A before turning 20 and has played 89 times in the division to date, despite missing 58 matches through injury in the last two seasons combined.

The 21-year-old star, who was once described as a "dominant" defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has proven his quality in one of Europe's major leagues and been capped eight times by Italy, whilst Vuskovic has played once for Croatia and is yet to play a minute of football in a major European league.

In fact, as you can see in the post above, Atalanta described him as a "19-year-old veteran" in his second season at first-team level, whilst posting some of his impressive highlights whilst playing in the Serie A as a teenager.

Scalvini started 31 games in the Serie A in the 2023/24 campaign, before missing the majority of last term through injury, and showcased his defensive qualities with 3.4 tackles and interceptions per game and a 56% duel success rate.

This means that he made more than twice as many tackles and interceptions per match as Vuskovic did whilst playing in the Belgian Pro League last season, which is not one of the top five major European divisions.

Overall, Scalvini would arrive at Spurs as an even bigger talent than the Croatian centre-back because of the quality of his performances in the Serie A, as well as his exposure to top level football, domestically and internationally, at a similar age to the Tottenham man.

Whilst Vuskovic may go on to be an incredibly impressive centre-back for Spurs in the future, Scalvini is a young centre-back who has proven that he has the quality to make an instant impact, whilst also being one for the future.

Tottenham Hotspur are now in talks over a move to sign a £60m+ defender who has been likened to Virgil Van Dijk.

Tottenham kick off pre-season with win at Reading

Spurs began their preparations for the 2025/26 Premier League season on Saturday afternoon, with new manager Thomas Frank seeing his side in action for the first time against League One side Reading.

Two second-half goals in the space of four minutes from Will Lankshear and Luka Vuskovic were enough to seal an opening pre-season victory for Spurs and Frank.

It was the first time supports got to see teenage defender Vuskovic in action, and he impressed with a goal, assist and clean sheet, saying after the game: “Everything is perfect. The club is behind me. The players, the staff, the coach, everyone is helping me a lot and I’m really happy.”

Meanwhile, Frank also liked what he saw from the Croatian teenager, adding: “Luka deserves the praise as well. A great header. Showed his physicality and his composure on the ball. He’s not getting stressed when opponents get close. And what a strike.”

Vuskovic could well rival the likes of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin for a spot in the squad over the coming months, however, Spurs are also looking at another defensive addition.

Reports have linked Tottenham with a move to sign Bournemouth centre-back Illia Zabarnyi, with claims suggesting Spurs and Daniel Levy are ready to pay more than £60m for the Ukraine international.

Tottenham open talks for £60m+ Bournemouth star Zabarnyi

According to information from The Boot Room, Tottenham have been in contact with Bournemouth over a deal for Zabarnyi.

However, the report says Spurs have a difficult job on their hands trying to convince the defender of a move to north London, as he has already agreed terms in principle with Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Now, Caught Offside have revealed that Tottenham have opened talks over a deal for Zabarnyi, with Spurs “willing to pay the full asking price” of around €70m, something which PSG aren't prepared to do at this moment in time.

Labelled a "dominant" player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Zabarnyi is still just 22 years of age and appears to be a star in the making.

As can be seen via Football Transfers, the Bournemouth star is already being likened to Liverpool captain Van Dijk and numerous other impressive centre-backs following his eye-catching two-and-a-half-year spell with the Cherries.

Spurs may have to look elsewhere for their defensive addition, though, or place more trust in Vuskovic with the games set to come thick and fast in 25/26.