Sports Mole

Antoine Semenyo reportedly has a release clause in his Bournemouth contract amid growing interest in his signature.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were among those linked with Semenyo in the summer transfer window, before the Bournemouth star put pen to paper on a new long-term contract.

While he is now under contract until the summer of 2030, the Ghana international is still facing an uncertain future at the Vitality Stadium. Â

A recent report claimed that Bournemouth are bracing themselves for potential offers for one of their standout attackers in 2026.

Man United, Spurs discover Semenyo release clause truth

Man United and Spurs are still believed to be in the race for Semenyo's signature, while Liverpool are also said to be among the player's admirers.

Semenyo's potential suitors have now received a boost in their respective pursuits, with talkSPORT claiming that his Bournemouth contract contains a release clause.

However, the terms of the release clause are not public, although Andoni Iraola's side reportedly value Semenyo in excess of £75m.

The Cherries will surely be reluctant to part ways with Semenyo in the winter transfer window, although the release clause will make it tougher to keep the winger for the long term.

Why is Semenyo attracting significant interest?

Semenyo's valuation has only grown since the summer transfer window, having made an impressive start to the 2025-26 campaign.

The 25-year-old has scored six goals in Bournemouth's opening seven Premier League matches, leaving him in second place in the top-flight's scoring charts.

Semenyo has also contributed three assists, and with each performance, he bolsters his reputation as one of the league's best attackers.Â

After helping Ghana secure World Cup qualification, Semenyo will be looking to score in a third consecutive Premier League match when Bournemouth take on Crystal Palace on Saturday.Â

Arsenal sensation Max Dowman has broken yet another record with his goal in England Under-19s' 7-0 thumping of Wales in Tuesday's friendly contest.

The 15-year-old was called up to that age level for the first time in September, shortly after making his Gunners debut in their 5-0 Premier League battering of Leeds United at the Emirates.

Dowman took little time to make an impact for the Under-19s, providing an assist in a 3-3 draw with Spain last month, before coming off the bench in a 4-1 victory over Belgium on Saturday.

Tottenham Hotspur's on-loan Rangers talent Mikey Moore stole the show in that encounter with a hat-trick, and the Spurs phenom scored again in Tuesday's obliteration of Wales, as did Dowman in the second half to put England 4-0 up.

The Arsenal number 56's goal in the 56th minute was a historic one, as Dowman became the youngest-ever goalscorer for England's Under-19s, breaking the record held by Ryan Sessegnon for nine years.

Ex-Tottenham and current Fulham defender Sessegnon was 16 years and five months old when he scored for England's Under-19s against Luxembourg in October 2016, but the now-25-year-old has been dethroned by Dowman, who is the first 15-year-old to net for England at that level.

What other records has Arsenal's Max Dowman broken? And what records could he still break?

While Dowman is one of just three 15-year-olds to make an appearance in the Premier League, he was not quite as young as Ethan Nwaneri was when his Arsenal teammate debuted in the competition in September 2022.

However, the 2009-born attacker is the youngest player to ever contribute to a goal in the competition, having won a late penalty for Viktor Gyokeres to convert in the battering of Leeds on August 23.

James Vaughan is still Premier League's youngest goalscorer of all time, netting at the age of 16 years and 271 days for Everton in 2005, but Dowman will break that record should he score at any point in the 2025-26 top-flight season.

Prior to making his breakthrough at senior level, Dowman broke the record for the youngest-ever goalscorer in the UEFA Youth League at just 14 years old, dethroning former Borussia Dortmund talent Youssoufa Moukoko.

Dowman is yet to appear in the Champions League for Arsenal, but the Englishman was an unused substitute against Athletic Club and Olympiacos and could still become the youngest player in the competition's history.

That record is also held by Moukoko, who was 16 years and 18 days old when he debuted in Europe's top competition, but Dowman can move past the German attacker by featuring against any of Atletico Madrid, Slavia Prague, Club Brugge or Bayern Munich between now and the end of 2025.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keen on adding a La Liga-based midfielder to their squad.Â

The Premier League side are said to be aiming to add young European talent to their squad as they look to add a different dimension to Thomas Frank's side.Â

Spurs' midfield options currently include Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, Yves Bissouma, and Joao Palhinha, the latter joining on loan from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window.

While James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Xabi Simons play further forward in advanced midfield roles, Spurs' reported transfer target operates in central midfield.Â

Spurs eye Real Sociedad midfielder

According to Fichajes, the North London club are interested in the services of Real Sociedad's Luca Sucic, who joined the Spanish side in summer 2024 after four seasons with Red Bull Salzburg.

Sucic, 23, has since made 43 appearances for La Real in all competitions, scoring one goal in La Liga and three across all competitions.

A Croatia international, Sucic, who is reportedly available for €25m (£21.7m), has played 18 times for his national team after making his debut four years ago in a World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in October 2021.

Interestingly, Sucic recently scored his first goal for the 2018 World Cup runners-up, netting in a qualifying match on October 12 against Gibraltar for next year's tournament, as Vatreni secured a 3-0 victory.

Inter Milan emerge as Spurs' potential rival for Sucic

The report reveals that Inter Milan could challenge the London club for Sucic if the 2025 Europa League winners do not act swiftly.

Both clubs' rumoured interest in the 23-year-old may stem from his exceptional dribbling and ball-carrying skills.

According to Fbref, Sucic is ranked in the 96th percentile for attempted take-ons and the 98th percentile for successful dribble attempts.

The Real Sociedad man also tends to shoot at goal following his dribble efforts, as shown by his placement in the 93rd percentile for shots after successful take-ons.Â

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Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are allegedly among the clubs who still hold hope of signing Real Madrid star Arda Guler.

The Turkey international is currently in his third campaign at the Bernabeu, racking up a total of 15 goals and 15 assists from 71 appearances in all compeitions.

Guler's game time has steadily increased during that period having initially remained on the fringes of Carlo Ancelotti's plan after his arrival.

Under Xabi Alonso, though, Guler has already made 10 appearances this season, including seven starts in La Liga where he has already contributed three goals and three assists.

However, the 20-year-old has been used in several different positions by the Spaniard, an indication that he is yet to settle on the player's best position.

Six clubs interested in Guler deal

According to Grada3, Arsenal and Spurs are among six teams who retain ambition to tempt Guler away from Los Blancos in the future.

The report suggests that Guler being moved from his preferred number 10 role on various occasions may tempt him into a move elsewhere.

Furthermore, it is alleged that Guler holds ambitions of eventually playing in the Premier League, something that will only encourage Arsenal and Spurs.

Newcastle United are also said to be monitoring the situation, as are AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

Real Madrid remain in a strong position to retain Guler's services in the long term courtesy of his contract not expiring until 2029.

Arsenal have reportedly already tried and failed to sign Guler in the past, when he was struggling for regular outings under Ancelotti.

Would Real reject all Guler offers?

With Real having signed Guler for a fee in the region of £26m to £27m, they are already at a point where they could make a substantial profit on his sale.

However, despite his youthful age and status in a star-studded squad, Guler has accumulated the seventh-most minutes of any Real Madrid player in La Liga this season.

Therefore, he is clearly a trusted part of Alonso's plans going forward, and only a request for a transfer will lead to Real considering a sale at this point in his career.

Brought into this world eight months after Tottenham Hotspur won their most recent domestic trophy, Lilywhites phenom Luca Jamie Williams-Barnett has been taking academy football by storm over the past couple of years, and his feats are rightly being recognised.

The 2008-born playmaker has been racking up the individual milestones of late, from signing his first professional Spurs deal just a couple of weeks ago, to being voted the Premier League 2's Player of the Month for September.

More recently, Williams-Barnett was named as one of the Premier League's top 20 'Next Gen' talents by The Guardian, who cherry-picked one enormously-talented player born between September 2008 and August 2009 for every English top-flight club.

As Williams-Barnett starts to knock on the Tottenham first-team door, Sports Mole takes a deeper look at the teenager, delving into his background, recent form and the style of play that has excited coaches, fans and journalists alike.

Luca Williams-Barnett: Background

Born in Luton in October 2008, Williams-Barnett naturally began his journey to professional stardom with Luton Town, and he would be playing under ex-Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere right now had he remained at Kenilworth Road.

However - with all due respect to the Hatters - Williams-Barnett was destined for bigger things and was soon enrolled into the Tottenham academy as an Under-10s player, since when he has been rising through the age groups at a rapid rate.

Williams-Barnett was still just 15 years old when he experienced his first taste of Under-18s football in the 2023-24 season, ending that league campaign with two goals and one assist from seven matches and quickly catching the eye of Ange Postecoglou.

Williams-Barnett had not even made his debut for the Lilywhites' Under-21s side by the time he made his first senior matchday squad, as he travelled to Galatasaray for a Europa League league-phase match in November 2024, observing that 3-2 loss from the bench.

The youngster was also an unused substitute in subsequent European encounters with Roma and Rangers, and he was named in a Premier League squad for the first time in December 2024, watching on from the dugout as Spurs drew 1-1 with London rivals Fulham.

Having already earned Postecoglou's admiration, Williams-Barnett also made the right kind of impression under Thomas Frank, who brought him on for his professional debut against Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup last month.

Williams-Barnett replaced Mathys Tel for the final three minutes of that 3-0 win, thus becoming Tottenham's youngest-ever EFL Cup player at 16 years, 11 months and 24 days, only a week before signing his first professional contract.

Luca Williams-Barnett: Recent form

Either side of his brief first-team involvements in the 2024-25 campaign, Williams-Barnett took a leaf out of the Micah Richards book by bursting onto the scene at youth level, tearing defences apart left, right and centre for the Under-18s.

The 17-year-old amassed a spectacular 32 goal contributions from 23 games in the 2024-25 season - 20 of his own and 12 assists - including 19 strikes and nine helpers in the Under-18 Premier League season.

Williams-Barnett started as he meant to continue with 10 goals in his first nine outings of the campaign, before scoring a hat-trick and also providing an assist in a 5-3 success over Brighton & Hove Albion in February.

The versatile attacker finished the season as the second-highest scorer in the Under-18 Premier League, only trailing Nicholas Okelunye's 27 goals for Southampton.

Tottenham were knocked out in the fifth round of last year's FA Youth Cup by Watford, but Williams-Barnett nevertheless set up all three of his side's goals in their 3-2 third-round win over Middlesbrough and also netted in the fourth-round beating of Grimsby Town.

The juvenile star was inevitably promoted to the Under-21s for the 2025-26 season, and the step-up has been a breeze so far, as Williams-Barnett already has six goals and three assists under his belt from six Premier League 2 appearances.

Williams-Barnett's performances in September saw him bestowed with the Player of the Month prize, while he also provided a goal and assist in a UEFA Youth League win over Villarreal.

The 17-year-old has already begun to terrorise senior rearguards too, as he scored one and set up another in a pulsating 4-4 draw with Bristol Rovers in the EFL Trophy, before Tottenham lost on penalties.

Internationally, Williams-Barnett has represented England from Under-15 to Under-18 level and has already scored twice in three appearances for the latter.

Luca Williams-Barnett: Style of play

An adaptable and unpredictable attacking midfielder, Williams-Barnett can function as an out-and-out number 10, a centre-forward or on either side of the attack, but he primarily likes to drift infield from the left.

The 17-year-old showcases masterful control and balance when he has the ball at his feet, often dropping deep to collect possession before carving through opposing lines by himself.

Williams-Barnett is not the most physically imposing player at 5ft 9in, but the playmaker rides a tackle superbly thanks to his confidence, deceptive strength, nifty footwork and low centre of gravity.

After weaving his way through opposing challenges, Williams-Barnett normally has the vision to pick out a teammate's run with a perfectly-weighted through ball, or go for goal himself.

The teenager has made a habit of catching goalkeepers off their line from long range, scoring a handful of astonishing 30+yard goals last season, while also demonstrating ruthlessness from close in with powerful drives and delicate dinks.

Williams-Barnett is never one to shy away from a fancy flick or skill move either; such tactics have proven effective at youth level so far, and if he carries on in the same vein over the coming months, he should be given more chances to strut his stuff with the big boys too.

Tottenham Hotspur's Mohammed Kudus maintained his stellar form at international level on Sunday evening, scoring the goal that sent Ghana to the 2026 World Cup.

The former West Ham United man entered the October hiatus on the back of making an immediate impression in North London, registering five goal contributions from his first 10 games for the Lilywhites.

Kudus has claimed one goal and four assists in his opening 10 matches under Thomas Frank, scoring his inaugural Tottenham goal and also setting up Mathys Tel in last weekend's 2-1 Premier League win over Leeds United.

Furthermore, no player in the division has set up more goals than Kudus in the 2025-26 top-flight campaign, as the Ghana international's four helpers is level with Everton's on-loan Manchester City star Jack Grealish.

Tottenham's Mohammed Kudus sends Ghana to 2026 World Cup

However, the former Ajax attacker was the beneficiary of a well-timed pass from a teammate on Sunday evening, as his strike propelled Ghana to a World Cup-clinching 1-0 win over Comoros in Group I.

The Black Stars were three points clear of second-placed Madagascar at the top of the section heading into the final matchday, and Otto Addo's men could not find a way past their visitors in the first half of Sunday's clash.

However, just two minutes into the second period, ex-Arsenal and current Villarreal midfielder Thomas Partey squared for Kudus from the right-hand side of the area, and the Spurs man made no mistake from a few yards out.

Kudus's strike proved decisive in that 1-0 win for Ghana, although Madagascar's 4-1 loss to Mali on the same evening meant that the Black Stars would have been assured of a first-placed finish regardless of the outcome of their fixture.

Nevertheless, Kudus's effort - his 13th for the national team - made absolutely sure of his side's progression to the showpiece and extended his eye-catching sequence at both domestic and international level.

The stats that make Mohammed Kudus undroppable for Spurs

Adding a new dimension to the attack of any team he represents, Kudus has already made himself a nailed-on starter in Frank's system, and the statistics tell the full story of his influence.

As well as registering a joint-high four assists in the league alongside Grealish, Kudus boasts by far and away the most successful take-ons in the 2025-26 Premier League season with an unrivalled 30, as per FBref.

Brighton & Hove Albion's Yankuba Minteh is in a distant second with 19 - Manchester City's Jeremy Doku is one lower with 18 - and Kudus's five goal-creating actions are also only trumped by Grealish's six.

Kudus also ranks joint-fourth in the league for chances created (13) and has delivered more crosses than any other player with an unmatched 48, three clear of teammate and closest challenger Pedro Porro.

The 25-year-old may still need to refine his final product in front of goal, but he is already going a long way to justifying his £55.5m price tag.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have apparently been handed a boost in their efforts to secure a deal for Vasco da Gama starlet Rayan in 2026.

The 19-year-old is thought to have attracted glances from multiple Premier League clubs after his rise to fame in Brazil, where he has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season.

Labelled a 'jewel' of the South American footballing landscape, Rayan has nine goals alone in the 2025 Brasileiro season, including five in his last four appearances.

The 2006-born winger - who is most comfortable on the right-hand side of the attack - has also struck two goals in 11 appearances for Brazil's Under-20 side, and interest in his services has naturally grown.

Vasco are in a precarious position when it comes to Rayan's future, as he is only under contract with the club until New Year's Eve 2026, and an exit is supposedly now seen as 'inevitable'.

Chelsea, Tottenham-linked Rayan 'unlikely' to remain with Vasco

According to ESPN - via O Dia - the teenager is increasingly unlikely to remain with Vasco da Gama after 2026, and there is a 'good chance' that he will be on the move to a European club in the coming months.

The Brazilian side have therefore started to lay out their price demands to interested clubs, and they would ideally like to pocket €30m (£26.1m) through a possible sale in 2026, but the price could be driven down.

The report adds that Vasco may be willing to accept a total package of around €25m (£21.8m), made up of a fixed fee of €20m (£17.4m) and €5m (£4.4m) in performance-related add-ons.

Such an amount would not prove challenging for teams of Chelsea or Spurs' calibre, but they are not the only English or indeed European teams pursuing Rayan's signature.

Which clubs could rival Chelsea, Spurs for Rayan transfer?

The first expressions of interest in Rayan supposedly came from Saudi Arabia, as Al-Hilal and Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr announced their intentions to bring him to the Middle East.

However, the Brazil Under-20 international rejected the chance to link up with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, as he is determined to make a name for himself in Europe over the next several years.

Clubs from Portugal, Spain and Italy have also been linked with Vasco's teenage talent; Porto and Fiorentina supposedly came forward with offers, but Vasco were left dissatisfied on both occasions and rejected the bids.

Meanwhile, Real Betis are understood to have made a 'concrete approach' for Rayan, but they abandoned their pursuit once they struck a deal with Manchester United for Antony.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly in the race for Porto's highly-rated striker Samu Aghehowa, but they will need to pay a massive transfer fee to sign him.Â

Spurs have made a strong start to the 2025-26 campaign, picking up 14 points from their opening seven Premier League games and lying third in the table, just two points behind Arsenal.Â

However, there are issues to worry about, and one is the recurrent injuries to Dominic Solanke, who remains on the sidelines most of the time.Â

The 28-year-old striker has managed just 31 minutes of Premier League football this season, and has not featured since the 2-0 victory over Manchester City on 23 August.Â

It was earlier thought that the former AFC Bournemouth striker would miss only a few games, but after undergoing surgery on his recurrent ankle issues, he is now set to be out for at least a few months.Â

Spurs eye move for Porto striker?Â

According to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham are weighing the possibility of making a move for Aghehowa, having scouted him heavily last year.Â

The Spaniard was previously linked with a move to Manchester United earlier this year, but the Red Devils chose to invest heavily in Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko instead.Â

The 21-year-old is regarded as one of the top young talents in world football, with the potential to become an elite striker, and there is serious intent from Spurs to pursue him.Â

The young striker has a £86m release clause in his contract, which is a massive price tag for a player of his age, but it could be a decent fee for any potential suitors who want to take a gamble on him.Â

Samu could be an exciting signing for TottenhamÂ

Thomas Frank has Richarlison as another option, and he would be thrilled to see the Brazilian forward in his best form this season.Â

The former Everton striker has scored three goals and provided one assist in five Premier League starts this season, but he remains injury-prone and his future is constantly being speculated about.Â

Samu did not get enough chance to show his talent for Atletico Madrid, but he has proved his class playing for the Portuguese giants, managing 27 goals in all competitions last season.Â

The youngster is still not the finished product, and there is plenty of room for development, but he could be a terrific signing for Spurs if they can get him at a reasonable price.Â

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a second injury boost after Randal Kolo Muani played 45 minutes of a friendly against Watford on Friday.

The Lilywhites revealed yesterday that Paris Saint-Germain loanee Kolo Muani had taken part in a behind-closed-doors game against the Hornets as he stepped up his recovery from a troublesome thigh injury.

Kolo Muani has not played for Spurs since their opening Champions League victory over Villarreal in mid-September, but the Frenchman is seemingly on track to be fit for their first game back against Aston Villa on October 19.

As well as having Kolo Muani back in their ranks, Spurs' midfield options could be strengthened by the return of Yves Bissouma, who is yet to play a single game for Thomas Frank's side this season.

The 29-year-old missed Tottenham's Super Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain for disciplinary reasons, and he has since been nursing a knee injury, which has prevented him from getting into Frank's good books.

Yves Bissouma pictured in training as Spurs receive injury boost

Nevertheless, Bissouma was called up to the Mali squad for the October international break, suggesting that the midfielder was on the cusp of a return to competitive action.

Bissouma did not make the matchday squad for his nation's 2-0 win over Chad on Wednesday, but the 29-year-old has now been pictured with the ball at his feet in training alongside his international teammates.

Mali take on Madagascar in their second World Cup 2026 Qualifying fixture of the month on Sunday, and there is ostensibly a chance that Bissouma will be available for selection for their final game in Group I.

However, the clash is an inconsequential one for Mali, who have already been eliminated from contention as they sit in third place in the section, four points behind second-placed Madagascar and seven adrift of group leaders Ghana.

Spurs may therefore wish to see Bissouma spared for the meaningless game, thus guaranteeing his availability for their upcoming clashes with Villa in the Premier League and Monaco in the Champions League.

Does Yves Bissouma have a future at Tottenham?

Bissouma remained in North London over the summer despite persistent talk of a move to Serie A or the Turkish Super Lig, but his long-term future surely lies away from the Europa League winners.

The midfielder is now in the final 12 months of his contract with no extension in sight, meaning that he will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January onwards ahead of a likely free transfer in the summer.

Bissouma was a stalwart of the 2023-24 Spurs side under Ange Postecoglou, but he slipped down the pecking order last term, and the presence of Joao Palhinha means that he has not been missed in 2025-26.

As Spurs are expected to sign Bayern Munich-owned Palhinha on a permanent deal next year, Bissouma will continue to be surplus to requirements at Tottenham, who will likely lose their £25.4m investment for nothing in 2026.

Bissouma has made a century of appearances for Tottenham since joining from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022, but he has only managed two goals and zero assists for the club.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly touched base to enquire about a talented 19-year-old Nigerian winger as Thomas Frank seeks to strengthen his attacking ranks further.

The Lilywhites welcomed Mohammed Kudus, Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons to Hotspur Way during the summer transfer window, as well as converting Mathys Tel's loan from Bayern Munich into a permanent move.

However, the Europa League winners are on the hunt for additional reinforcements after a £100m cash injection from the Lewis family, and they have been linked with a couple of notable names, including a £100m-rated Premier League attacker.

Spurs are also rumoured to be interested in reuniting Thomas Frank with one of his former Brentford talents, and according to TEAMTalk, the club are also keeping a watchful eye over 2006-born winger Sani Suleiman.

The 19-year-old - who plays for AS Trencin in the Slovakian top flight and has been dubbed an 'African gem' - has supposedly already been the subject of an enquiry from Tottenham.

Tottenham make transfer enquiry for African 'gem' Sani Suleiman

The North London giants are said to have been one of several clubs to have watched Suleiman in action for Nigeria at the Under-20 World Cup, where scouts were running the rule over his performances.

However, Spurs will face competition from the likes of Rangers to land the youngster, but they have attempted to steal a march on the competition by asking about his contract situation and possible availability.

Suleiman only has one year left to run on his deal with AS Trencin, but both parties can choose to activate a two-year extension in his contract to prevent him leaving on a free transfer.

For the time being, though, the Nigerian remains fully focused on his development in Slovakia, and he is doing his utmost not to let the ongoing transfer speculation affect him.

German giants Bayer Leverkusen are also understood to have taken a liking to Suleiman, who joined Trencin from Nigerian outfit Akwa United in the summer of 2024.

Spurs target Suleiman in profile after transfer 'enquiry'

Comfortable on both the left and right-hand side of the attack, Suleiman represented both the senior and youth teams of Trencin last season, notably scoring in a UEFA Youth League qualifier against Olympiacos.

Now a fully-fledged member of the first team, Suleiman has started the 2025-26 season as he means to go on, scoring two goals and providing one assist in his first five Fortuna Liga matches this term.

All in all, the attacker has registered four goals and two helpers in his first 30 appearances for the Slovakian side, but he is only valued at €800,000 (£696,080) by Transfermarkt.

The teenager was also one of Nigeria's top performers at the recent Under-20 World Cup, providing an assist in a 3-2 group win over Saudi Arabia, but he missed his side's 4-0 last-16 defeat to Argentina owing to a ban.