FootballFanCast

To describe Tottenham Hotspur's campaign this year as a rollercoaster would be a massive understatement.

For most of the Premier League season, Ange Postecoglou's side were nothing short of terrible - which would explain the club's decision to sack him.

However, even with injuries severely hampering them on the domestic front, the North Londoners were brilliant in the Europa League, and with most of their squad back for the climax of the campaign, they ended up winning it all in Bilbao.

One of the team's stars in the semi-finals and final was Cristian Romero, yet there is a distinct possibility that he could leave this summer, although based on the latest player touted for a move to the Lilywhites, that might not be such a problem.

Tottenham transfer news

While he'll likely go down as a Spurs legend for his efforts in the Europa League this season, it is now starting to feel like Romero could be at a different club entirely by the end of the summer transfer window.

A few months ago, stories came out linking him with a move to Real Madrid, but since then, the most prominent links have been to their city rivals, Atlético Madrid.

In fact, in April, reports were suggesting that the Argentine had already spoken to his compatriot, Diego Simeone, and as recently as late last month, more stories emerged claiming that the player had informed the Lilywhites that he wanted to join the Spanish giants.

While losing the World Cup winner would be far from ideal, there is a chance he could fetch the club a fee of around £60m, and that could help them sign a replacement or even upgrade, like Wilfried Singo.

According to a recent report from Caught Offside, the Europa League winners are among several teams interested in signing the AS Monaco star this summer.

Alongside Tottenham, the report claims that Arsenal, Atlético, Newcastle United and Napoli are all keen on the player, who's set to cost around €35m - £29m - and talks are expected to progress soon.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Singo's ability and potential, it's one worth fighting for, especially as he could actually be an upgrade on Romero.

How Singo compares to Romero

Now, unlike with strikers, wingers and even some midfielders, where you can just look at their goals and assists, it can be rather difficult to cast any significant judgment over a defender without watching them for quite some time.

However, there are some ways in which we can still gauge how Singo stacks up against Romero, and the best is to take a deep dive into their statistics and compare their underlying numbers.

Interestingly, when we do this, it becomes clear that not only would the 6 foot 3 "monster," as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, be a good replacement for the possibly departing Argentine, but he could even end up being something of an upgrade.

For example, per FBref, the Ivorian international comes out ahead in the majority of relevant metrics, be that the attacking ones, like progressive passes and carries, or the defensive ones, like interceptions, clearances, blocked shots or percentage of aerial duels won, all per 90.

Moreover, the 24-year-old has another trick up his sleeve: positional versatility.

While he is primarily a centre-back, the Moncao gem can and has played at full-back and even right-midfield before, meaning he could provide the next Spurs boss with so many more tactical options.

Ultimately, Romero is an unreal player, but if he does leave, then Singo could be the perfect replacement and maybe even an upgrade.

Tottenham Hotspur need to reinforce multiple areas of the squad this summer, especially in preparation for their first campaign back in the Champions League since Antonio Conte's time in charge.

Tottenham plan transfers now that Ange's fate is sealed

Before their triumph against Man United in the Europa League final, trusted media sources like The Telegraph reported that the north Londoners were set for a 'sell to buy' summer.

However, after Ange Postecoglou ended the club's 17-year wait for a piece of silverware and secured Tottenham their first European trophy since 1984, things are looking a lot more positive in the transfer market.

Unfortunately for Postecoglou, this wasn't enough for the Australian to keep his job, with Spurs announcing on Friday afternoon that they've decided to part company.

His parting gift to supporters was an historic night in Bilbao and an undoubted boost when it comes to their club's transfer activity, even if Postecoglou himself won't be around to bear the fruits of his labor after a torrid domestic campaign.

Spurs actually have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to PSR, which was with or without Champions League qualification. The Athletic even suggested recently that chairman Daniel Levy could spend £200 million this summer and still be in line with financial regulations.

The issue actually lies in whether they have the cash to pull off mega-money investment into the squad, but with their Champions League status now confirmed, Spurs are set for a much more "comfortable" summer with the incoming cash-flow from competing in Europe's most prestigious competition.

Sky Sports recently claimed that Tottenham will prioritise the signing of a new forward and midfielder, if Cristian Romero stays. But, if the Argentine does end up leaving, most likely to Atletico Madrid, their need for a centre-back will suddenly increase ten-fold.

The Lilywhites have identified targets in the event Romero does depart N17, with Genoa defender Koni de Winter attracting interest from Tottenham as one option, according to some reports in Italy.

Another very intriguing possibility is a deal for Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck.

The Germany international was a regular under former Inter boss Simone Inzaghi last season, playing 46 matches in all competitions, and featured in almost all of their Champions League matches en route to their final defeat against PSG.

Tottenham have been pushing to sign Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck

According to a report in Italian newspaper Tuttosport, via Calciomercato.it, the 24-year-old is "increasingly close" to leaving San Siro.

The prospect of him following Inzaghi out of the door is a very realistic one, and they claim that Tottenham have been pushing hard to sign Bisseck this summer given his availability.

They also moot the hint at the potential for a player exchange, with the Nerazzurri said to hold a serious interest in Radu Dragusin, although this is just a "hypothesis" with no real movement on that possibility just yet.

He would be affordable from Levy's perspective, as other Serie A reports suggest Inter have set an asking price of around £34 million. Bisseck has been called a "diamond" by members of the Italian media, with the Bundesliga's official website also comparing him to Micky van de Ven.

Leeds United are going to be busy in the summer transfer window on their way to, hopefully, building a squad that can avoid relegation from the Premier League.

The Whites have already been linked with plenty of players to potentially arrive at Elland Road in the coming months, as Daniel Farke looks to improve his team.

Feyenoord forward Igor Paixao, Tottenham Hotspur central midfielder Yves Bissouma, and Brighton & Hove Albion centre-forward Evan Ferguson are just a few of the stars who have been linked with the club.

The West Yorkshire outfit are also reportedly eyeing a loan deal to sign Emiliano Buendia from Aston Villa, which would see him reunite with Farke, whom he thrived under at Norwich City.

Whilst there could be some high-profile, exciting, additions to the squad, there are also players in the current squad who are proof that players can turn their careers around.

For example, Leeds hit the jackpot when they decided to swoop for central defender Joe Rodon in the summer of 2023, despite his failure to make the grade at Tottenham Hotspur.

Why Leeds have hit the jackpot with Joe Rodon

The Whites initially signed the Wales international on loan from Spurs for the 2023/24 campaign, after he made just 24 appearances in all competitions in four years with the Premier League side.

Rodon went on to play 43 of the club's 46 regular season matches and all three of their play-off games that term, forming partnerships with both Pascal Struijk and Ethan Ampadu.

His form at the heart of the defence for the West Yorkshire outfit that season convinced the club to splash a reported fee of £10m out to sign him on a permanent basis from Spurs in the summer of 2024.

They were willing to take a gamble on a player who had not played much football after a difficult spell with Tottenham, and it is one that has paid off for the Whites.

As you can see in the table above, Rodon was incredibly important to Farke in the 2024/25 campaign, as he started every single league game in the Championship - the only player in the squad to do so.

The highlights in the post above from his performance against Oxford United in April showcase the kind of quality that he provided in and out of possession for the Whites.

Leeds hit the jackpot because they unearthed a centre-back with the defensive strength to keep out opposition attacks, whilst also having the ability on the ball to start attacks, and they could repeat the masterclass they played with Rodon by signing another former Spurs defender.

Leeds eyeing deal for Championship star

According to GIVEMESPORT, Leeds United are one of the teams eyeing up a potential move to sign Millwall star Japhet Tanganga in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites, Burnley and Sunderland are all plotting swoops to sign the English central defender ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, as they look to bolster their defensive options following promotion to the Premier League.

This means that there could be plenty of competition for his services this summer, with a number of teams keen on snapping him up from the Lions, and that suggests that Leeds will have to move quickly if they want to bring him to Elland Road in the coming weeks.

GIVEMESPORT adds that he has a release clause in his Millwall contract that would allow all three of the interested teams to sign him for just under £2m, in what could be a bargain deal.

The report also claims that Leeds have been keeping tabs on Tanganga for a long time and that they view him as a player who could bolster their efforts to avoid relegation from the Premier League next season.

It is now down to the club to beat Sunderland and Burnley in the race for his signature this summer because he could be a Rodon repeat for the Whites.

Why Tanganga could be a Rodon repeat for Leeds

Like Rodon, the former England U21 international played for Spurs in the past but failed to make the grade as a regular starter for the Premier League outfit, playing 50 times in all competitions across four years in the first-team.

Tanganga joined Millwall on loan for the 2023/24 season before joining the club on a free transfer in the summer of 2024, and he has been a terrific performer in the Championship for the Lions.

The 26-year-old titan was provided with an opportunity to revive his career in the second tier with Millwall, as Rodon was with Leeds, and he has taken it with both hands with his displays in the last 18 months or so.

Pundit Carlton Palmer claimed that the defender is "capable of playing in the Premier League" because of his "tremendous recovery pace" and that he "is a cut above" the Championship, which is reflected in the statistics below.

As you can see in the table above, Tanganga is strong in duels with opposition attackers and rarely gets dribbled past, which speaks to his 'tremendous recovery pace'.

This suggests that, as Palmer claimed, he has the physical attributes to be a success in the Premier League for Leeds if they decide to snap him up for a bargain fee of less than £2m this summer.

Tanganga may not have made the grade at Spurs, just like Rodon, but that does not mean that he is not a quality operator, as shown by his form for Millwall, and that is why the Whites could repeat their Rodon blinder by signing the English star this summer.

It's been a truly bizarre campaign for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

The fans will only remember this season for the club's historic triumph in the Europa League - and rightly so - but the powers that be cannot ignore just how disastrous the team's Premier League performances were, injury crisis or not.

While there are likely plenty of things the club can and should address behind the scenes, one of the best ways Daniel Levy and Co can ensure next year is more successful is by signing the right players this summer.

The good news is that recent reports seem to indicate that they're targetting at least one bonafide star who'd be an incredible addition to the squad, but it could be bad news for James Maddison as the target in question would likely be an upgrade on him.

Tottenham transfer news

Given how poorly the team fared on the domestic front this season, it's not been a surprise to see Spurs linked with a host of talented stars in recent weeks, like Xavi Simons and Angel Gomes.

The former could cost the club around £65m, but with a tally of 11 goals and eight assists in just 33 appearances for a lacklustre RB Leipzig side this season, that's a fee that feels pretty reasonable.

Gomes, on the other hand, wouldn't cost a penny in transfer fees, as his contract with LOSC Lille expires this month, although for all the experience and quality he'd bring with him, he couldn't be described as an upgrade for Maddison, unlike Eberechi Eze.

Yes, according to a recent report from Football Transfers, Spurs have maintained their intense interest in the Crystal Palace star.

In fact, the report goes a step further, proclaiming the Englishman as the North Londoners 'top target' for the window.

The story does not reveal how much the 26-year-old dynamo might cost the Lilywhites, but it has been pretty widely reported in recent weeks and months that he has a release clause in his current contract worth around £68m.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Eze's incredible ability, it would be more than worth it, even if his arrival would be bad news for Maddison.

How Eze compares to Maddison

Now, while Eze is a positionally versatile player and has spent plenty of his career playing out wide on the left, his most played position, and where he's spent most of this season, is attacking midfield.

Therefore, his main rival for game time at Spurs would be Maddison, but how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, when it comes to their pure output, it's the Eagles ace who comes out on top, as in 43 appearances for the South London side, he scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.72 games.

In comparison, the former Leicester City star scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists in 45 appearances for the Lilywhites this year, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.95 games.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out victorious when we take a look under the hood?

Well, things are once again somewhat close here, but overall, it's the FA Cup-winning "superstar," as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, who comes out on top.

For example, he comes out ahead in more relevant metrics than his compatriot, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Maddison is a brilliant player, Eze is two years his junior and performing at a higher level in a side that most would have predicted to finish lower than the North Londoners this time last year.

Therefore, Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign the versatile star this summer before someone else beats them to him.

If there is one area of the team Arsenal need to strengthen this summer, it's the attack.

While Mikel Arteta's side finished a distant second to Liverpool in the Premier League this season, they ended the campaign with a better defensive record than anyone in the league but with 17 fewer goals scored.

So, with this apparent weakness compared to their title rival, it's hardly surprising to see the club linked with a host of talented strikers, like Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Ollie Watkins, in recent weeks.

However, the North Londoners could also do with more options off the left, which would help to explain the links to a player who could be their next Lukas Podolski.

Arsenal's winger search

Before we get to the player in question, it's worth going over some of the other wingers who have been linked with Arsenal this summer, like Nico Williams and Rodrygo.

The former has been a long-term target for the club and has a release clause worth around £50m, which doesn't seem too unreasonable for a 22-year-old international who racked up 18 goal involvements in 45 games this season.

Rodrygo, on the other hand, could cost as much as £85m, but considering he'd be moving from Real Madrid and has produced 24 goal involvements in 51 appearances this year.

However, while both players would be excellent additions to the Gunners' squad, neither one can really be compared to Podolski, unlike Leroy Sané.

Interestingly, according to a recent report from German outlet BILD, the Bayern Munich star, who is out of contract this summer, could be on the move, and when it comes to English clubs, he would only be interested in joining Arsenal, with his desire to join North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 'low.'

It would appear as if there is some degree in the player from the Gunners as well, as earlier this week, it was fairly widely reported that talks had taken place between his representatives and the club.

It might not be the most exciting transfer, but Sané has more than proven himself over the years, and there are certain elements to this potential deal that could make him become a new Podolski for the club.

Why Sané could be Podolski 2.0

So, before getting into some of the other reasons why Sané would be a good signing, it's worth addressing why we look at him as a potential Podolski 2.0.

The first is that both players would have joined the club from the Bundesliga as German internationals, and furthermore, while the former Gunners ace joined from Koln in 2012, he too had spent time and won titles with Bayern Munich.

Secondly, both players are positionally versatile, with the Bayern star mainly playing off the left but being able to play off the right as well, while the 40-year-old was also primarily a left-winger at the Emirates but has spent more time up top in his career.

On top of that, the pair are both left-footed, and while they can easily create and score goals, they have tended to favour the latter throughout their careers.

For example, the former Manchester City ace, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed "world-class," has scored 133 goals and provided 125 assists in his 496 appearances, while the Koln legend has found the back of the 238 times and provided 138 assists in 700 games.

Last but not least, given the fact he's 29 years old and would be joining for free, the Essen-born international could have a similar impact as his senior compatriot did at the club, in the sense that he could come in, spend a couple of seasons as a useful offensive option and then move on, without being a significant financial burden.

Ultimately, Sané is still a brilliant footballer, and considering he'd be available for free, bringing him to the club feels like a no-brainer for Arsenal.

The summer transfer window is here, and Tottenham Hotspur need to get moving.

The North Londoners may have broken their title drought in the Europa League, but it cannot be forgotten just how diabolically poor they were in the Premier League.

So, to ensure things improve next season, Daniel Levy and Co need to provide Ange Postecoglou - or whoever takes his job - with the right players.

Fortunately, recent reports have linked the Lilywhites with someone who'd be the ideal replacement, Son Heung-min, who may be on the way out.

Tottenham transfer news

Back in January of this year, Tottenham announced that they had extended Son's contract for another year, and while it looked like he'd fulfil that extra season, things have changed.

On Tuesday afternoon, Sam Wallace of the Telegraph revealed that the North Londoners captain, who has been at the club since 2015, could be 'another high-profile departure this summer.'

He explains that, with interest from the Saudi Pro League, there is a real chance for the club to fetch a decent fee for the South Korean ace and that, following the club's victory in Bilbao, he'd be going on a high and as an undisputed legend.

While selling the 32-year-old might not be a popular idea with all fans, it might explain the club's interest in Antoine Semenyo.

Yes, according to a recent report from transfers expert Dean Jones, Spurs are one of several clubs in the picture for the Bournemouth star this summer.

Jones does not mention how much the international might cost, but a story from earlier this week that also linked Manchester United with the 25-year-old claimed that the Cherries might demand around £60m for their dynamic attacker.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Semenyo's ability and potential, it's one worth fighting for, especially as he'd be a great replacement for Son.

Why Spurs should sign Semenyo

While it would represent a significant investment, there are a few reasons why Spurs should be going out to sign Semenmyo this summer, starting with his output this season.

Despite playing for a midtable side, the Ghanaian international managed to rack up a pretty impressive haul of 13 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances, totalling 3562 minutes.

In other words, the former Bristol City gem averaged a goal involvement every 2.1 games, or 178.1 minutes this season.

On top of that, the Chelsea-born "monster," as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is incredibly versatile, and while he would be an excellent replacement for Son on the left, he's ambipedal and just as comfortable playing off the right and even up top, which would give whoever is in the dugout next season, more tactical options.

Finally, the dynamic attacker, who Mattinson claims "is tailor-made for a big team", has some impressive underlying numbers to his name, numbers which show he also puts a real shift in when it comes to his defensive duties.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 3% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League for blocks, the top 4% for passes blocked, the top 5% for total shots, the top 8% for aerial duels won, the top 10% for shot-creating actions from take-ons and shots, the top 12% for successful take-ons percentage and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it is a lot of money, Spurs would be wise to sign Semenyo this summer as he would not only add some real quality to the squad in his own right, but he'd also be an ideal replacement for Son.

Tottenham Hotspur could soon find themselves on the hunt for a new head coach, with chairman Daniel Levy set to communicate his all-important managerial decision to Ange Postecoglou "this week".

Ange Postecoglou set to learn Tottenham fate imminently

Reliable club insider Paul O'Keefe has claimed that Levy has already decided whether he's going to stick or twist with Postecoglou after a very mixed campaign, and the Australian is apparently set to learn his fate imminently.

Sky Sports report that Postecoglou's future will be resolved "this week", with critics and supporters alike set to find out the result of what must have been a very tough call behind the scenes at Hotspur Way.

The former Celtic boss made history by guiding Spurs to their first European trophy since 1984 and first piece of silverware generally since 2008 by beating Man United 1-0 in the Europa League final, which also gifted the club a spot in next season's Champions League draw.

However, Tottenham's domestic form across 2024/2025 was quite simply unacceptable, with Postecoglou's side breaking the record for most league defeats recorded by Spurs in a single Premier League season (22).

If they hadn't secured a narrow victory against Ruben Amorim's Red Devils in Bilbao, there would be no debate about sacking the tactician, but the raw emotion that comes with ending Tottenham's trophy-winning hoodoo has given Levy plenty to ponder.

Players have also spoken out in support of Postecoglou - including the likes of Pedro Porro, James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray - making the decision even harder.

If Levy does opt to hand the 59-year-old his P45, £4.5 million-per-year Brentford boss Thomas Frank is tipped as a prime contender for the job.

Tottenham are said to have held "multiple meetings" with Frank over the role, with journalist Pete O'Rourke now claiming that the Dane has entered pole position to succeed Postecoglou.

Thomas Frank "emerging" as top Tottenham target to replace Postecoglou

Writing for Football Insider, the reporter states Frank is "emerging" as Tottenham's "number one" managerial target to replace Postecoglou.

The Lilywhites are apparently "increasingly convinced" of the 51-year-old's credentials to do a job at Spurs and lead them into the Champions League next term, following his excellent job at Brentford on a shoe-string budget compared to more elite Premier League sides.

Frank has just guided the Bees to a solid mid-table finish, despite losing star striker Ivan Toney to Al-Ahli last summer, with the Dane also steering his injury-ravaged Brentford squad clear of relegation in 2023/2024.

Brentford have also registered a net-spend of just £96 million over the last five years, with Frank's side holding their own in Europe's most competitive division without having to splash that much on recruitment.

This will undoubtedly be attractive to Levy, and Man City boss Pep Guardiola is on record stating that Frank is "one of the best" managers around.

His appeal is clear, but it is still just a hypothesis as we await the result of Levy's crunch Postecoglou call.

While they finally saw their team lift a significant honour in the Europa League, we reckon most Tottenham Hotspur fans are happy to see the back of this season.

For example, away from their continental success, the North Londoners finished all the way down in 17th place in the Premier League and failed to get past the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.

So, whether Ange Postecoglou keeps his job or not, Daniel Levy and Co need to do all they can to bring in the right players this summer, players who can help them rise up the table and put in a good showing in the Champions League next season.

Fortunately, the club seem to be on the same page, as reports are now linking the North Londoners with an incredible talent who could be their answer to Manchester United's seemingly imminent signing of Bryan Mbeumo.

Tottenham transfer news

Back in the January transfer window, Spurs were one of several Premier League sides quite heavily linked with a move for Mbeumo, and while nothing came of it, the links didn't go away.

In fact, the Brentford star was still being touted for a move to N17 as recently as last month, but then this week, all hopes of the North Londoners securing the Cameroonian's signature evaporated.

On Monday evening, The Athletic's David Ornstein revealed that despite interest from other sides, including Tottenham, the 25-year-old now wants to join the Red Devils.

While missing out on a player as talented as the former Troyes gem is never ideal, the good news is that the Lilywhites have now been linked with another sensational talent compared to him: Xavi Simons.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Spurs are one of several teams interested in signing the RB Leipzig star.

The report claims that the North Londoners made contact with the player's camp in January and that they'll have to compete with Arsenal, Chelsea, and potentially Liverpool should they opt to move ahead with their interest.

The Dutchman is valued at around £65m by Leipzig, so while it would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, it's one worth fighting for, especially as he could be Tottenham's answer to Mbeumo.

How Simons compares to Mbeumo

So before getting into a couple of the other reasons why Spurs should be looking to sign Simons this summer, it's important to examine this comparison to Mbeumo and where it comes from.

It stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, and in this instance, has come to the conclusion that the Brentford star is the fourth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Leipzig gem across the last 365 days.

The best way to understand how this conclusion was reached is by looking at some of the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, expected assists, shots and shots on target, goal-creating actions, tackles won, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

On top of their statistical similarities, the 22-year-old "pocket rocket," as dubbed by analyst Raj Chohan, could also have the same effect on the North Londoners that so many expect the Bees ace to have on United.

For example, despite missing some of the campaign with an ankle injury, the Amsterdam-born dynamo was able to rack up a seriously impressive haul of 11 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances for the German outfit.

That means he averaged a goal involvement every 1.73 games for a team that struggled more than most expected this season.

Finally, in addition to his ability in and around goal, the 26-capped international is positionally versatile and is more than capable of playing off either wing, in attacking midfield and even as a centre-forward if need be.

Ultimately, missing out on Mbeumo isn't ideal, but in Simons, Spurs could have their own goalscoring superstar on their hands, so Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

The closest Tottenham Hotspur have come to winning the Premier League in generations was under Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine's best team may have ended up being less successful than Ange Postecoglou's current side - trophy-wise, anyway - but it was stacked with some outrageously talented players.

The likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and a young Son Heung-min will always get the plaudits from those outside of the fanbase, and understandably so, but the Lilywhites faithful know full well that Mousa Dembélé was just as important to that side.

The Belgian was an utterly superb central midfielder, so supporters should be excited about recent reports linking the team to a youngster who has shades of the retired monster about him.

Spurs midfield targets

Before getting to the player in question, it's worth looking at some of the other central midfielders who have been touted for moves to Spurs in recent weeks, like Quinten Timber and Angel Gomes.

The former is the brother of Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber, the captain of Feyenoord, reportedly worth £25m and could be an ideal addition to the squad, as he's capable of playing in attacking, central and defensive midfield.

Likewise, Gomes could be a sensational signing as, thanks to his contract with LOSC Lille expiring this month, he'll be available for nothing, and at just 24 years old, he already has experience of national team football, the Champions League and top-flight football in both Portugal, France and England.

Yet, neither one of these internationals could really be described as having shades of Dembélé to them, unlike Adam Wharton.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the Crystal Palace star is now a serious target for the North Londoners.

The report has revealed that the club are 'prioritizing a central midfield' signing this season, and the young Englishman 'figures highly on their shortlist.'

However, it won't be an easy deal to get done, as the Eagles are after upwards of £60m for the midfield maestro, but even then, with his ability and potential, that may be a fee worth paying for Spurs, especially as he could emulate parts of Dembélé's game.

How Wharton compares to Dembélé

So, before the pitchforks and torches come out, it's important to state that we are not saying that Wharton is currently as good a player as Dembélé was during his pomp at Spurs, as that would just be silly.

However, given the fact that he's still just 21 years old and will be until midway through next season, it's not that out there to suggest he could reach that level in time, especially as there are some similarities between the pair.

The first, and perhaps most significant, is the fact that the Palace gem very rarely loses the ball.

In fact, according to FBref, the "generational" talent, as dubbed by members of the media, sits in the bottom 40% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for the frequency he is dispossessed, coming in at just 0.89 times per 90, or, in other words, less than once a game.

A great example of this was in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, as, on top of winning duels, making tackles and playing a number of excellent passes, he was also able to hold onto the ball brilliantly despite the immense amount of pressure Pep Guardiola's side tried to exert on him.

This ability to keep the ball was one of the Belgian's most impressive, and it seems like the young Englishman has it in spades.

Then there are the more surface-level comparisons, such as both players coming from a London club - Fulham in Dembélé's case - and the fact that they could and can play in either central or defensive midfield.

Ultimately, while it's a lot of money, Spurs should do what they can to sign Wharton this summer, as he looks like he has the raw abilities and ceiling to become the club's next Dembélé.

After lots of speculation hinted at the possibility, Ryan Mason is now officially the brand-new West Bromwich Albion manager ahead of the 2025/26 campaign kicking off in the Championship.

It's a bold next step for Mason, considering he has only ever taken the reins at Spurs on an interim basis, but his work behind the scenes has been praised in North London, meaning he could be the breath of fresh air needed at the Hawthorns to kickstart a promotion push.

The 33-year-old could well rely on these Spurs connections when looking to make some impactful summer signings, with one or two young faces at the Premier League titans already being linked to make the switch to reunite with Mason.

Mason could use Spurs connections

The Baggies had frequently utilised the loan market when the likes of Carlos Corberan and Tony Mowbray stood in the dug-out.

Indeed, raw gems such as Will Lankshear (0 goals in 11 games) and Lewis Dobbin (0 goals in 18 games) failed to ever get going at the Hawthorns, away from the more experienced Adam Armstrong who was also a disappointing capture, having netted three times in 16 matches.

Therefore, Mason will hope - if he's given permission to raid his ex-side for some up-and-coming starlets - that these deals go swimmingly instead and aren't categorised as similar failures, with Spurs attacking hotshot Jamie Donley one notable name previously linked with a move to the West Midlands.

This could go down as a big success story when you consider Donley is just fresh off collecting 18 goal contributions for Leyton Orient on loan, but Mason's dream first Baggies signing could centre on one of the 20-year-old's teammates.

Amazingly, if all went to plan, Mason might well win himself the club's new Tom Fellows, with West Brom's attacking personnel undoubtedly boosted by potential activity in the market.

Mason could sign the next Fellows

Whilst West Brom would depressingly let a playoff spot slip out of their grasp last campaign, Fellows still managed to be a bright spark for his boyhood club throughout the bumpy season.

The time does feel right for Moore to spread his wings and gain an EFL education, with the 17-year-old now off the mark in the senior side when scoring the strike above in the Europa League earlier this year.

But, away from impressing here and there under Ange Postecoglou, the teenager needs regular minutes to fully strut his stuff with an appropriate platform surely coming his way now under Mason.

Reports do suggest that Mason has Moore on his early West Brom shopping list, and whilst the 17-year-old has lined up as a centre-forward and attacking midfielder during his fledgling Spurs career to date, he could well come into the Baggies step-up and terrorise defenders down the flanks much like Fellows.

After all, 18 of his Spurs appearances and counting have come down the left channel, with West Brom needing more numbers on the left too, owing to Mikey Johnston being the only recognised figure in Mason's camp capable of wreaking havoc on this wing.

He can even slot in down Fellows' trusty right-hand side if needed, but based on the numbers, Moore comes into his own as a creative force - much like the assist-heavy 22-year-old - when featuring on the left.

That is perhaps his best position with James Maddison having previously described him as "fearless" and a bit like Neymar in that role.

It will be intriguing to see if the North London prodigy can acclimatise well to the instant pressures of the Championship. If he can, Mason will have pulled off a dream first buy in the Hawthorns hot-seat.