FootballFanCast

Tottenham Hotspur’s record in front of goal last season was somewhat impressive, that’s despite the club ending the 2024/25 Premier League campaign in 17th place.

The Lilywhites netted 64 goals in their 38 outings, the seventh-highest tally of any side in the division, but it was their frailty at the back which saw them finish at the wrong end of the table.

Such a dismal league campaign saw Ange Postecoglou lose his job in North London, subsequently being replaced by Thomas Frank during the off-season.

However, the Dane has made it clear he wants added reinforcements within the final third this summer, ultimately wanting more depth in his quest for success during his tenure.

He’s already sought after numerous top attacking talents, potentially making key moves to help bolster his ranks with the new season rapidly appearing on the horizon.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer

Manchester City star Savinho has emerged as a surprise option over the last couple of days, with the winger potentially a victim of the Citizens’ own recruitment this summer.

He’s been the subject of internal talks at Spurs over a potential move, but no official approach has been made for the Brazilian, who registered 14 combined goals and assists last season.

However, the same can’t be said for another target, with progress being made on a deal to sign Harvey Elliott, according to FootballTransfers' latest report.

They claim that Frank has already held direct talks with the Liverpool forward over a switch to North London between now and the closure of the summer window on September 1st.

It also states that the 22-year-old is allowed to depart Anfield during the off-season, but Arne Slot’s side are currently demanding a fee in the region of £40m for his signature.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be their answer to Palmer

Chelsea star Cole Palmer is a player who has constantly tormented countless backlines in the Premier League over the last few years - but none more so than Spurs.

He’s achieved a 100% win rate in his four games against the Lilywhites, scoring three times and notching three assists - the joint highest tally of contributions he’s managed against a single club.

His latest effort came during the 1-0 win for the Blues at Stamford Bridge, setting up Enzo Fernández for the only goal of the game, adding to his two-goal haul in the reverse fixture.

The England international has registered 37 goals and 19 assists for Chelsea in his 70 league outings, with Frank undoubtedly wishing he had his own version of the 23-year-old in his ranks.

However, that could be about to change this summer with a move for Elliott, potentially following Palmer’s route that has catapulted him to stardom in recent times.

A deal for the Liverpool talent would be reminiscent of that of the Blues star who joined the club from Manchester City after being limited to minutes off the substitutes' bench.

Whilst he struggled for league starts under Slot last season, only being in the starting 11 twice, he managed to be labelled as a similar player to Palmer by FBref - even bettering him in numerous key areas.

Elliott, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by one analyst, posted a higher goal per shot on target rate in 2024/25, arguably possessing more of a threat when beating down on goal - adding that firepower Frank craves this window.

He also managed to register more progressive passes per 90, along with a higher tally of passes into the final third - able to provide the creativity needed for the attackers around him in North London.

The youngster’s dominance over Palmer is further highlighted by his carries into the opposition’s area per 90, having the talent to get the ball into dangerous areas more often, subsequently making him a huge threat to defenders who try to apprehend him.

At just £40m, it could be a deal that proves to be a bargain for the Lilywhites if he can replicate the stats he’s produced with limited game time on Merseyside.

If he can follow the trajectory that Palmer has been on since making the move to the capital, it could be an excellent piece of business that would add further quality to the Lilywhites’ already threatening attacking department.

Tottenham have stepped up their pursuit of a number 10 after James Maddison's serious knee injury, with the club confirming some very bad news on Thursday.

The England international is now set to undergo surgery on a ruptured ACL, which is expected to keep him out for the majority of 2025/2026 - dealing a major blow to Thomas Frank ahead of his first full season in charge.

Frank watched on from the sidelines as his Spurs side were thrashed 4-0 by Bayern Munich on Thursday, and while it's important not to read too much into pre-season, the Lilywhites looked bereft of ideas in Bavaria.

The trouncing occurred almost immediately after Tottenham confirmed the dreadful news about Maddison, and supporters are very keen to see chairman Daniel Levy swiftly enter the market for a new playmaker.

The 28-year-old joins Dejan Kulusevski, who was also sidelined with a serious knee injury earlier this year, on the sidelines - with Tottenham now minus two key creators.

Club legend Son Heung-min drew the curtain on his 10-year stay in north London with an MLS record-breaking £20 million move to Los Angeles FC earlier this week too, following an emotional goodbye in Seoul - further emphasising the need for Levy to bring in another attacker.

According to recent reports, Spurs are wasting no time in trying to find a man who can help to fill the voids left by Maddison, Kulusevski and Son.

Sky Italia reporter, Gianluca Di Marzio, claims that Tottenham have already had a £35 million bid rejected for Como starlet Nico Paz, while it is also believed that Spurs made contact over signing top Everton target Jack Grealish in the last few days (Fabrizio Romano).

Liverpool attacker Harvey Elliott, who's attracting serious interest from the Bundesliga after his stellar Euro Under-21 campaign with England, has been mooted as a potential target as well.

Harvey Elliott keen to join Tottenham after direct talks with Thomas Frank

Despite RB Leipzig's advancing pursuit of the 22-year-old (Florian Plettenberg), Football Transfers have shared that Spurs are not completely out of the race just yet.

According to their information, Elliott has held direct talks with Frank about joining Tottenham, and he's keen - seeing a move to London as the 'ideal opportunity' to compete for a place in Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions squad ahead of the World Cup next year.

Frank apparently views the Anfield sensation as "central" to his attacking plans, and the Dane has already informed Elliott of his ideas to use the attacker as Tottenham's new number 10 in Maddison's absence.

The former Fulham starlet could leave Merseyside for around £40 million, but Liverpool are insistent that a buy-back clause must be included in any proposed deal.

It is claimed that Levy is "willing to meet all of Liverpool’s demands" when it comes to terms, meaning negotiations are poised to take a positive turn.

Elliott's sky-high potential, and the fact he can help to fill Tottenham's 'locally trained' Champions League quota, make him a standout attacking candidate at pretty good value.

The player stands to earn far more minutes down south than he does under Arne Slot next season, so this deal could be a serious win-win for everyone involved, as Liverpool also need to balance the books after a serious summer of spending.

Tottenham Hotspur have now reportedly tabled an offer in their pursuit of a playmaker to replace James Maddison, who's now set to miss the majority of 2025/2026 after suffering an ACL injury.

The news zero Spurs fans wanted to see was confirmed in an official Lilywhites statement on Thursday morning.

Maddison is set to undergo surgery on his right knee, which is expected to keep him out for a very lengthy period, and Thomas Frank now goes into their first competitive game of the season - a blockbuster UEFA Super Cup clash against PSG - seriously bereft of forward options.

The 28-year-old has returned to the sidelines almost immediately after recovering from a similar knee problem, which kept him out of the Europa League final. To add insult to injury, Frank is also minus club legend Son Heung-min - who waved an emotional goodbye before his switch to LAFC earlier this week - and fellow injured attacking threat Dejan Kulusevski.

It's a sorry state of affairs for Spurs, and Frank's only saving grace is that these absences come amid a transfer window.

Tottenham have made contact over a move for Man City's Jack Grealish, as per Fabrizio Romano, but they'll need to decide whether to pursue a move pretty quickly as Everton are currently in talks.

Spurs were on the verge of signing Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White this time four weeks ago, who would've been the perfect man to step into Maddison's shoes, but Evangelos Marinakis was quick to ensure that solving their number 10 headache wouldn't be so easy.

Their botched deal for Gibbs-White is now looking more significant than ever before, but according to Sky Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, Tottenham are attempting to rectify it with a move for Como sensation Nico Paz.

Tottenham submit bid for Como star Nico Paz with response given

The Argentine attacking midfielder bagged six goals and nine assists in 35 Serie A appearances under Cesc Fàbregas last campaign, and footballing icon Lionel Messi has already lavished praise on his compatriot as a real one to watch.

“Nico has many qualities and understands the game perfectly," said Messi, via Football Italia.

"He has an impressive mind and is working with a coach who is my friend (Cesc Fabregas) who will help him grow even more.”

Their pursuit of him comes after Maddison's injury, as per Di Marzio, who also writes that Tottenham have submitted a £35 million offer for Paz already.

However, they'll need to go back in again with an improved bid, with Como rejecting their approach out of hand. The Italians have set a public valuation of around £61 million for Paz, and an offer of at least £52 million will be needed to even bring Fabregas' side to the negotiating table.

The 20-year-old joined Como from Real Madrid last summer after making eight senior appearances under ex-boss Carlo Ancelotti, including three in the Champions League, so he's already familiar with the pressures of representing an elite-level club.

However, a price of close to £60m would make Paz one of Spurs' most expensive ever signings, which could be seen as a major gamble considering he's only had one full season of regular senior football.

Tottenham Hotspur have been left with a huge hole to fill in Thomas Frank’s first-team squad, after it was confirmed that James Maddison would be ruled out for the majority of the campaign.

The England international was stretchered off in the pre-season friendly with Newcastle United last weekend, suffering a knee injury which was feared to be serious.

However, in the last couple of days, the worst was confirmed, with the 28-year-old tearing his ACL, which requires surgery and could see him miss up to nine months.

Frank has been in the market to land a new attacking midfielder already this summer, potentially needing to delve into the window once again after the recent injury setback.

The hierarchy have already wasted no time in making a move to land a suitable replacement, with numerous players being considered ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Jack Grealish is a player who’s been on Spurs’ radar over the last couple of weeks, even making contact with Manchester City over a loan deal for the 29-year-old.

However, they may miss out on the Englishman’s signature, after Everton made their own move to complete a deal for the £100m talent over the last few days.

Another name that has been thrown into the mix is Jacob Ramsey, with the Aston Villa forward a player who could leave Unai Emery’s side this window, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that the Lilywhites hierarchy have already made contact with his current employers over a move for the 24-year-old who made 29 Premier League appearances last season.

It also states that West Ham United are also present in the race for the attacker’s signature, leading to a £40m transfer fee being mooted throughout this summer.

Why Spurs’ £40m target would be Gibbs-White 2.0

Morgan Gibbs-White looked set to be a Spurs player at one stage earlier this summer, but it turned out to be one of the strangest sagas to unfold throughout the off-season.

The Nottingham Forest star was set for a medical in North London, after Frank’s side triggered the £60m release clause within his contract - a deal that seemingly came out of nowhere.

However, despite a deal seemingly just needing the final touches before being completed, Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis intervened, complaining about an illegal approach from the Lilywhites.

It’s thought Forest never gave the player permission to enter talks with the North London outfit, which resulted in a stand-off, before Gibbs-White penned a new three-year deal at the City Ground last month.

However, after missing out on the 25-year-old’s signature, they could be about to land a star similar to the former target, with Ramsey potentially following an identical route of leaving his boyhood side to further his career.

When delving into the pair’s respective stats, the Villa talent has managed to outperform Gibbs-White in key areas, highlighting how much of a superb addition it would be for just £40m.

Ramsey, who’s been labelled a “monster” by one analyst, managed to complete more passes, whilst also registering more into the opposition box per 90 last season - arguably being a more creative option than the Forest captain.

He also achieved a higher tally of take-ons completed and carries into the opposition’s box per 90, handing Frank’s side the needed creativity that will be missing after Maddison’s latest injury.

A smaller fee for a player a year younger could actually be a superb piece of business for Spurs, with Ramsey's potential move to North London allowing the fanbase to forget about the disappointment of missing out on Gibbs-White.

He may not be the supporters’ first choice this window, but his underlying stats highlight the talent he possesses - whilst he’s only going to get better when operating with more top-level talent around him.

If he can build on his impressive start to his career at Villa with the Lilywhites, he could well prove to be the perfect player to fill the void whilst Maddison spends the next few months on the sidelines.

Thomas Frank is set to be without star playmaker James Maddison for the foreseeable future, with Tottenham confirming on Thursday morning that the Englishman is set to undergo surgery on a ruptured ACL.

It was solely meant to be a night of farewell glory for club legend Son Heung-min last Sunday, but Tottenham’s fireworks fizzled into despair when Maddison collapsed in agony just minutes after stepping onto the pitch in Seoul.

Maddison’s right knee - the same one that kept him out of the Europa League final - let him down once again. One moment he was chasing the ball, the next he was on the ground, clutching his face in disbelief. A stretcher carried him off as crutches awaited outside - with Frank describing the injury as a "bad" one.

The worst was yet to come, though, as Spurs have now announced that Maddison is set for surgery on an ACL problem which could force him to miss the vast majority of the season.

The 28-year-old is staring down the barrel of a six-to-nine-month recovery period, as is usually the case with ACL ruptures.

It’s heartbreak, pure and simple. Tottenham, already shaken by Son’s exit, now face a long season without the talent, vision and creativity of their star number 10. If they needed a new attacking midfielder before, they certainly need one now.

Chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange have undoubtedly shot the signing of a playmaker to the very top of their transfer priority list, coming after they missed out on a deal for Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White earlier this summer.

Spurs booked a medical for Gibbs-White this time last month ahead of a proposed £60 million move before Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, unceremoniously stopped the transfer, threatened Frank's side with legal action and persuaded the 25-year-old to pen a new deal.

A swoop for Gibbs-White is completely off the table, but Tottenham's need for another creative presence is more vital than ever before.

Dejan Kulusevski is also still sidelined with a knee injury, and having also lost Son, Spurs must get to work on Maddison's replacement with just weeks to go before the transfer deadline.

Tottenham offered AC Milan forward Rafael Leao after James Maddison injury

According to TBR Football and journalist Graeme Bailey, intermediaries recently floated AC Milan forward Rafael Leao in their direction, which happened in the aftermath of Son's exit and Maddison's injury blow.

However, while Tottenham have been offered Leao by these representatives, it is believed a move for the Portugal international, who's been called "unstoppable" by Tammy Abraham, and valued at around £74 million by the Rossoneri, is unlikely as things stand.

“My understanding is that intermediaries on the back of Son’s transfer and Maddison’s injury have put Leao to Spurs, in theory," said Bailey.

"Opportunistic, yes, but that is how some of the biggest deals in the world have come about.

“I am told that [Massimilano] Allegri has informed Milan’s hierarchy that he can turn Leao into one of the very best forwards in the world. They are not planning on losing him, and I don’t believe Leao has the wish to leave at this point; he is excited by Allegri.”

The opportunity to play Premier League football is always a temptation, but given Leao's current stance, Allegri's unwillingness to part company and the 26-year-old's asking price, Levy will likely need to look elsewhere.

Tottenham have made recent contact over Jack Grealish, but face competition from Everton (Fabrizio Romano), while Harvey Elliott has also been named as a potential Spurs target amid discussions over a move to RB Leipzig (Florian Plettenberg).

Tottenham are expected to be one of the busier Premier League sides during the final few weeks of this summer transfer window, and technical director Johan Lange will have multiple plates spinning behind-the-scenes.

Lange is known to operate in secrecy when it comes to his transfer planning, with Spurs showing a tendency to agree out-of-nowhere deals since the Dane took over from ex-managing director Fabio Paratici.

The Lilywhites' move for Wilson Odobert last summer took everyone by surprise, while their botched deal for Morgan Gibbs-White accelerated in similar fashion with very few leaks to the press - until the transfer was very close to being done.

Unfortunately for Lange, he ended up missing out on Gibbs-White in what was a very bizarre transfer saga.

After losing club legend Son Heung-min to the MLS, and now James Maddison for the majority of the season, it is absolutely imperative that Tottenham's technical director brings in a fresh, proven attacking alternative before the deadline on September 1.

Maddison will undergo surgery on an ACL rupture, Spurs confirmed today, with the 28-year-old set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Tottenham called Man City over Jack Grealish in the last few days, according to Fabrizio Romano, but face stiff competition from Everton, who have now opened formal talks over a loan deal for the 29-year-old.

Elsewhere, Liverpool sensation Harvey Elliott has been mooted as a potential target for Spurs after his exceptional Euro Under-21 Championships with England.

However, Bundesliga sides like RB Leipzig are offering Elliott the chance to further his development abroad, with sides across Europe now clamoring to reinforce their squad as we reach the final phase of this window.

Daniel Levy is dealing with a major headache when it comes to their pursuit of an attacker, and that botched deal for Gibbs-White is now looking all the more significant after Maddison's injury.

According to Alasdair Gold, the most reliable Spurs source you could ask for, Levy and Lange have other items on their transfer agenda too - namely signing another new centre-back.

The club triggered Kevin Danso's obligation to buy clause from RC Lens earlier this summer, and already boast the likes of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin among their crop of central defensive options.

Dragusin was recently handed Sergio Reguilon's number 3 jersey, whilst Romero's links to Atlético Madrid have practically died after Diego Simeone sealed a deal for David Hancko - so none of the quartet appear likely to be going anywhere this summer.

Tottenham ready to meet asking price for Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi

Regardless, Spurs are apparently in the market for another central defender, and they're still contenders for Bournemouth star Illia Zabarnyi.

According to French newspaper L'Équipe, as translated by Sport Witness, the Ukranian's switch to PSG is advanced, but Luis Enrique's side are currently haggling over a few million.

PSG made a recent written offer to the Cherries for Zabarnyi - £52m whilst covering FIFA's solidarity payment.

Bournemouth are prepared to accept this bid, if PSG include a further £3m in bonuses, which the Ligue 1 giants are currently refusing to do.

This has handed Levy an opportunity to hijack the deal, with L'Équipe reporting that Tottenham are ready to meet Bournemouth's demands for Zabarnyi 'immediately' and are 'pushing' to sign the 22-year-old.

Spurs were actually in the mix for his former Bournemouth teammate, Dean Huijsen, before he chose a move to Real Madrid (Fabrizio Romano).

Now, Frank could win the race for another Bournemouth defender instead, but they'll first have to convince Zabarnyi himself, who's been chasing a move to Paris for quite some time.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly on the lookout for an heir to club legend Son Heung-min amid their dire need for a new playmaker too, with Spurs expected to be busy during the final few weeks of this summer window.

The Lilywhites take on PSG in a highly-anticipated UEFA Super Cup clash next week, but as things stand, Thomas Frank will battle the French treble winners with a severely weakened squad.

Son's £20 million move to LAFC brought an end to what was an historic 10 years at Spurs for the winger, culminating in the 33-year-old waving an emotional goodbye to an adoring Korean crowd in Seoul last weekend.

Unfortunately, the tribute was marred by James Maddison suffering a serious injury to the same knee which kept him out of the Europa League final last season.

Maddison was forced off on a stretcher, with Frank describing the issue as "bad" in what was a devastating blow for the Dane ahead of his imminent first competitive game in charge.

After just 90 minutes against Newcastle, Frank lost Son to the MLS and Maddison swiftly returned to the treatment table, with Daniel Levy now tasked with somehow filling the voids left by both men.

In an ideal world, Levy and technical director Johan Lange would bring in a versatile-enough attacking option to cover both positions, if they can't sign two new attackers.

There are a few intriguing possibilities in this regard, with reports suggesting that Liverpool sensation Harvey Elliott could emerge as a target for Tottenham. However, the north Londoners face stiff competition from RB Leipzig, who are now moving for the England Under-21 international after his stellar Euros.

Similarly to Elliott, wantaway Manchester United starlet Alejandro Garnacho can operate both on the left-hand side and as a CAM.

Alejandro Garnacho refuses to rule out joining Tottenham

Chelsea are believed to be in talks for Garnacho as they eye a double-swoop for the Argentine and Xavi Simons, but according to journalist Graeme Bailey, Spurs are not entirely out of the race.

Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey reports that Frank's side and Aston Villa are other suitors, and Garnacho hasn't "discounted" joining either of them over Chelsea, even if Stamford Bridge is his preferred destination right now.

“Garnacho is determined to leave Old Trafford, we know that, and Chelsea appeal, but I am told he has not discounted other options," said Bailey.

“A move to Stamford Bridge does (stand out to him). Spurs and Villa like him, but Chelsea have done a lot of work so far.”

The 21-year-old fits seamlessly into Tottenham's transfer policy of buying young players with high potential and sell-on value, with reports also suggesting he'd cost around £40 million after Ruben Amorim's side reduced his asking price.

Tottenham are in the market for a new number 10, which has been made all the more imperative by James Maddison's nightmare injury, and Thomas Frank is also in need of a replacement for club legend Son Heung-min.

It was a night of both beauty and heartbreak in Seoul last Sunday as Son bid adieu in what was his final ever appearance.

The Seoul World Cup Stadium brimmed with 64,773 fans as he received a guard of honour from both Spurs and Newcastle players, before being subbed off in the 65th minute. Tears streamed down his face as he walked off, overwhelmed by chants, tributes and heartfelt ovations in his homeland.

The now-former Lilywhites captain, who helped to end Tottenham's trophy drought whilst etching his name into folklore with 173 goals in 454 games, has arrived in Los Angeles after sealing a near-£20 million move to LAFC as per PA Media - drawing the curtain on an incredible last decade in north London.

In what was a major blow for Frank, the occasion was unfortunately somewhat marred by James Maddison's horrific-looking knee injury. Maddison, having finally returned from a knee issue that kept him out of the Europa League final, entered the fray late only to collapse off the ball clutching that same knee.

He was stretchered off around seven minutes from full-time, later seen leaving the stadium on crutches, with Maddison now joining fellow chief creative outlet Dejan Kulusevski on the sidelines.

Kulusevski and Madders were Tottenham's standout attacking outlets when fit and available last term, and Frank now faces the overwhelming headache of being without them both for the start of 2025/2026 - alongside the departed Son.

It makes signing a new attacker absolutely non-negotiable, and chairman Daniel Levy would ideally have at least one before they face off against PSG in the UEFA Super Cup on August 13.

Technical director Johan Lange has displayed a tendency to operate in silence, as we've seen previously with his out-of-nowhere moves for Wilson Odobert last summer and Morgan Gibbs-White this window, so the Dane may have something brewing.

Their deal for the latter unceremoniously failed in almost 'Spursy'-like fashion, with Gibbs-White joining the likes of Paulo Dybala and Jack Grealish on Levy's list of transfer near-misses.

Lange is still in the market for a new playmaker as a top priority for Tottenham, as per reliable media sources like Alasdair Gold, and GiveMeSport claim that they have registered an interest in Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.

Tottenham given response as Levy eyes Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers

Rogers lit it up at Villa last season with his dynamic runs, direct dribbling and eye for goal - earning both their Young Player of the Season award and a PFA Young Player of the Year nomination.

The England international can operate on both the left-hand and right-hand sides, as well as in the 10 position, meaning he could step into both Maddison and Son's shoes.

The 22-year-old's 14 goals and 16 assists in all competitions were absolutely vital for Unai Emery, so much so that Villa are demanding around £100 million to let Rogers leave the Midlands before deadline day.

As per GMS, Tottenham are eyeing a move for Rogers, but Villa have responded to this with a 'not for sale' stance with London rivals Chelsea also thought to be admirers.

It would take Levy to completely smash the club's transfer record to even get Villa talking, but time is running out for Spurs to sign a new playmaker and replacement for Son, so they'll need to make a decision very soon.

Tottenham could make a signing befitting of new manager Thomas Frank by tempting one Liverpool star to north London, according to a new report.

The Spurs squad have returned from what ended up being a whirlwind final game of their Asian pre-season tour against Newcastle United.

Son Heung-min bid a very emotional goodbye to the club in Seoul before sealing an MLS record-breaking move to Los Angeles FC, bringing the curtain down on 10 stunning years in the Premier League.

Adding to the emotion, but in a far more negative way, star playmaker James Maddison suffered a "bad" injury to the same knee which kept him out near the end of last season, with the England international carried off on a stretcher.

Frank's side take on Bayern Munich in their final pre-season friendly of the summer tomorrow at the Allianz Arena, before gearing up for an all-important first competitive game of the new season.

Tottenham's blockbuster UEFA Super Cup clash against European champions PSG represents a golden opportunity for Frank to deliver silverware just months after his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, ended the club's 17-year wait for a major trophy.

A surprise win against Luis Enrique's Ligue 1 dominators would be the perfect start to Frank's reign, but the Dane is poised to go into the clash with a weakened squad as things stand.

Maddison's latest problem is likely to keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future, making the need for a new number 10 all the more glaring.

Tottenham were on the verge of signing Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White, booking a medical for the 25-year-old this time last month ahead of a £60 million move (BBC).

However, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis blocked the transfer, threatened legal action against Spurs and surprisingly managed to convince Gibbs-White to pen a new £150,000-per-week contract instead of leaving the City Ground.

After this unprecedented transfer twist, Frank and Daniel Levy must continue navigating the market for an alternative, and Spurs-linked former Stuttgart playmaker Enzo Millot is now off the table too, following his Al-Ahli move.

Tottenham tipped to move for Liverpool star Harvey Elliott

According to talkSPORT's Alex Crook, Liverpool star Harvey Elliott could emerge as an option for Levy before the deadline on September 1.

"The other name I'd keep an eye on when it comes to Spurs actually is Harvey Elliott at Liverpool," Crook said.

"He's another player that Liverpool are willing to cash in on, he had a brilliant summer leading the England Under-21s to European Championship glory.

"He won't be cheap, I think the asking price is about £40million, maybe north of that. But obviously, they were willing to pay £60m for Gibbs-White.

"And he just strikes me, Harvey Elliott, as a very Thomas Frank-type signing."

The homegrown and locally trained 22-year-old really did have a stunning Euro Under-21 campaign with England, grabbing goals against Spain, The Netherlands and against Germany in the final.

Elliott also featured on both the right and left-hand sides under Arne Slot last season, bagging a winner against PSG in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie last term, but struggled for consistent game time in the Premier League.

His versatility means that Elliott could even come in as a replacement for both Maddison and the departed Son, with the former Fulham youngster having just two years left on his contract - meaning there is also leverage for Levy to whittle down his asking price.

Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for an heir to club legend Son Heung-min, who waved an emotional goodbye in Seoul over the weekend.

It was a tearful Sunday night in South Korea, as Son played what was his final game for Spurs before his MLS record-breaking near £20 million move to Los Angeles FC.

A sunken-eyed send-off befitting a club legend unfolded at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, where 64,773 fans packed in to honour the winger in a friendly against Newcastle. Tottenham drew 1-1, but the attention belonged almost entirely to Son’s farewell, even if it was marred somewhat by an horrific-looking injury to star midfielder James Maddison.

After ten years at Spurs - where he scored 173 goals in 454 games and led them to a long-awaited trophy with their Europa League triumph - Son was given a guard of honour from both sides before exiting in the 65th minute.

His teammates lifted him shoulder-high, and even Newcastle players joined in the tribute, highlighting just how deeply respected he is.

Thomas Frank described the tributes last weekend as “unbelievable, beautiful scenes,” while Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said the reaction spoke volumes about Son’s character and the mark he left on the Premier League.

The curtain has closed on his golden era at Spurs. But for Son, his legacy lives on - in north London’s history books and the hearts of countless fans across the globe.

Unfortunately for Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange, the Lilywhites are now presented with an almighty task to somehow replace both his contribution on the pitch and his presence in the dressing room.

Son was often credited as a natural leader behind-the-scenes and someone who'd play a key role in helping to ease new players into the squad, which will be very hard to replicate, but the north Londoners are set to give it their best shot.

According to recent reports, Tottenham could attempt to make a real statement by signing Real Madrid forward Rodrygo to step into Son's shoes.

The Brazil international has been linked with a Bernabeu exit ever since the summer window opened, with Levy reportedly targeting Rodrygo in what would be a very bold, exciting move.

Tottenham await reply to Rodrygo offer after Real Madrid star's U-turn

Spanish news outlet Marca have a very intriguing update on this.

The 24-year-old was apparently determined to stay and fight for his place under Xabi Alonso, but in a U-turn over his future, he's now leaning more towards the exit door.

In response, various intermediaries have contacted Real to gauge the conditions of a potential deal, and Frank's side are among the clubs who are offering the ex-Santos sensation a route out of La Liga.

Marca reports that agents are convinced Tottenham have already made a bid for Rodrygo as the N17 club await a reply from Los Blancos, but there's no disclosure about the details of this alleged bid right now.

Real value their South American star at a minimum £60 million, which could rise to around £70 million, so Levy faces the prospect of potentially having to pay a club-record fee for Rodrygo's signature.

However, as Son’s farewell leaves a hefty gap, Rodrygo could be the one to fill it.

The Real star has bags of Champions League experience, blistering pace and a flair for the spectacular - cut from a similar cloth to Son.

He already has multiple European titles to his name and thrives drifting in from out wide, bagging 14 goals and 11 assists last season despite falling down the pecking order in recent months.

At Spurs, he’d undoubtedly be the main man, and his versatility is another very attractive trait for Frank in particular.