All posts by h716a5.icu

Cast your minds back to late October 2023, when Tottenham Hotspur were flying high.

Ange Postecoglou had just coached his tenth Premier League victory on the bounce, and there was talk about what he’d be able to build in North London centred around his incredibly exciting, gung-ho brand of football.

Unfortunately, that never happened, as following their 4-1 defeat to Chelsea, which saw them lose James Maddison and Micky Van de Ven to injury, while Cristian Romero got himself sent off, the team spiralled and only just about qualified for the Europa League in May.

This season has been even worse, and should they not find success in Europe, the Lilywhites could finish 17th and with nothing to show for Postecoglou’s second season in charge, which, as he went to great lengths to point out earlier this season, is when he tends to win something.

Unsurprisingly, reports are now suggesting the Australian will be moved on in the summer, and while others have pointed to Thomas Frank as a possible replacement, there is another name who has been brought up: a manager with league-winning experience.

Why Spurs would want Frank

So, before getting to the manager in question, it’s worth looking at why Spurs might want to hire Frank.

From a tactical perspective, the Danish coach prefers to use a 4-3-3 formation, which has been the Lilywhites’ go-to under Postecoglou, and like the Australian, the Brentford boss likes his teams to play a high-octane game.

He wants his sides to progress the ball up the pitch as quickly as possible, and while there is less of an emphasis on playing such a high line, they remain a free-scoring side, with the eighth most in the Premier League this season at 56.

Manager Focus

Aside from the pure tactics, he’s also shown an ability to completely shape a team as he led the West Londoners up from the Championship and made them a solidly mid-table side despite a relatively modest transfer spend.

Moreover, he’s also managed to improve the team even though Ivan Toney left in the summer, with Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa stepping in to fill the gap.

However, with all that said, there might be an even better option out there, someone who’s never managed in England before.

The Manager Spurs could hire in place of Frank

While there are plenty of talented managers out there that Spurs could look to hire this summer, the coach in question is none other than Xavi.

According to football.london, the Spanish icon has been linked with the Lilywhites’ hot seat recently, and while it seems like a somewhat unlikely appointment, it shouldn’t be.

Starting with the tactics, one of his main priorities at Barcelona was packing out the midfield, which he did by starting a traditional winger on the right but another midfielder on the left, who would come into the middle of the park, while the left-back provided width in the attack.

This approach could allow Dejan Kulusevski to start alongside James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and a defensive midfielder while also allowing Destiny Udogie to do what he does best, which is bombing forward.

To facilitate this interesting approach, the former midfielder, whom Joan Laporta dubbed “the best manager in the world,” tends to prefer a 4-3-3 formation, which, as mentioned before, is already how the North Londoners line up.

Games

143

Wins

91

Draws

23

Losses

29

Points per Game

2.07

On top of his tactical approach, the 45-year-old led the Catalans to a La Liga title and left the club with a record of 91 wins, 23 draws, 29 losses and an average of 2.07 points per game.

Ultimately, not only would Xavi institute a style that gets the best out of Spurs’ incredible midfield talent, but he’s also got the winning experience and would undoubtedly command the respect of his dressing room.

Best winger since Bale: Spurs could submit bid for £51m "game-changer"

Spurs are targeting a move for one of the Premier League’s best wingers.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 28, 2025

In an attempt to weaken their top-five rivals, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly readying a big transfer play to sign a Manchester City star who’s not short on potential suitors.

Leicester clash now a must-win for Nottingham Forest

After one win in their last five Premier League games, Nottingham Forest are in danger of derailing their season at the worst moment possible, with just three games remaining to claim Champions League qualification.

A 1-1 draw against Brentford last time out at least ensured that they avoided three consecutive defeats in all competitions, but Nuno Espirito Santo will be well aware how important victory against Leicester City is this weekend.

The Nottingham Forest manager told reporters in his pre-match press conference: “We are always aware of the quality of our opposition, and this is the responsibility of the players no matter what situation the team is in.

“Both sets of players are going to give their all, and as long as we are the better team, we should be proud. We expect a tough match and it’s an East Midlands derby and it means a lot for all of us at the club.

Nottingham Forest believe they can sign "exceptional" £50m star this summer

The Tricky Trees are keen to sanction reinforcements.

BySean Markus Clifford May 10, 2025

“Looking back at our last game, we insist we have to be more clinical, improve on set pieces, create more and defend properly. Everything we have done during the week we have to bring to the game. This is what we have to evaluate if we’re going to the fundamentals that we want to.”

What Champions League qualification would do for Nottingham Forest in the transfer window this summer cannot be overstated, especially as they reportedly go in pursuit of signing one particular Manchester City midfielder.

Nottingham Forest readying McAtee move

According to The Boot Room, Nottingham Forest are now readying a big transfer play to sign James McAtee from Manchester City this summer. The midfielder is reportedly keen to leave the Etihad in pursuit of a starting place elsewhere, opening the door for those at the City Ground to make their move.

That said, Forest aren’t alone in the race for his signature. Reports have also revealed that the likes of Bayer Leverkusen are also interested in the City graduate and see him as an ideal player to replace Florian Wirtz.

Of course, the advantage that the Bundesliga club have is that Manchester City are one of the reported clubs chasing a deal to sign Wirtz this summer.

Described as “talented” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, McAtee is likely to have a decision to make when the summer transfer window arrives. However, whether that ends with a move to Nottingham Forest remains to be seen.

As they did at the start of this season, Arsenal will go into next year as one of the clear favourites to win the Premier League.

While such an expectation now feels entirely normal, it wasn’t just a few years ago, as the 22/23 campaign marked the first season in a long time that the Gunners mounted a serious challenge for the title.

Mikel Arteta’s side failed to even qualify for the Champions League the year prior but came flying out of the gate and came painfully close to becoming champions with the exciting wing play of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, two of the club’s stand-out players.

While the former has only improved since then, the latter has struggled to match the 22 goal involvements he produced in 46 games, but the board might be about to sign a centre-forward who could help him get back to his best.

Arsenal's striker search

With Arsenal clearly needing another striker as far back as last summer, the club have been linked with a whole host of free-scoring forwards this year, from Alexander Isak to Benjamin Sesko.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former would probably be most people’s preferred option, as he’s proven in the Premier League and has been in incredible form this season, scoring 27 goals and providing six assists in just 40 appearances for Newcastle United.

However, with reports from earlier this year claiming that he could cost in excess of £150m, it seems incredibly unlikely that this is a deal that gets done.

Sesko, on the other hand, could cost around £58m this summer, and considering he’s managed to rack up a tally of 21 goals and six assists in 43 appearances for RB Leipzig, that might just be a reasonable fee.

Yet, as the Slovenian is still just 21 years old, the North Londoners might want a more senior marksman leading the line next year, which is where Viktor Gyokeres comes in.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in the Sporting CP superstar ahead of the summer transfer window.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Gunners have now made an opening bid of €60m for the Swedish superstar, which is about £51m, and considered likely to be too low.

The good news is that the Portuguese giants are willing to sell him for less than his €100m – £85m – release clause, but the bad news is that the likes of Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan are also all keen to secure the 26-year-old’s services.

It would be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Gyokeres’ immense ability in front of goal, it is one well worth fighting for, especially as he could get Martinelli back to his best.

Why Gyokeres could get Martinelli back to his best

Let’s say that Arsenal have their bid accepted, or they increase and get their man that way; why would Gyokeres help get Martinelli back to his 22/23 best?

Well, while there are a few different reasons, they fundamentally all come back to one thing: his output.

For example, in 50 appearances last season, totalling 4169 minutes, the prolific “monster,” as dubbed by journalist Alex Turk, scored 43 goals and provided 15 assists.

Appearances

50

49

Minutes

4169′

3948′

Goals

43

52

Assists

15

12

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

1.30

Minutes per Goal Involvement

71.87′

61.68′

That means he averaged 1.16 goal involvements per game for the entire campaign, or, in other words, he produced one every 71.87 minutes.

However, if that wasn’t good enough, he’s doing even better this season, as in 49 appearances, totalling 3948 minutes, the Stockholm-born sensation has scored 52 goals and provided 12 assists.

Such an incredible level of output means the 26-capped international is averaging 1.30 goal involvements per game at the moment, or one every 61.68 minutes.

Just imagine a striker as unbelievably efficient as him starting to the right of the Gunners’ number 11; his goal and assist numbers would explode.

Moreover, the sheer presence of someone so clinical in the frontline will force opposition defences to focus more attention on him, thus opening up more space for Saka and the rapid Brazilian to exploit.

Ultimately, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Gyokeres this summer, as not only would his goals make a significant difference on their own, but he’d also surely help Martinelli get back to his very best.

Same agent as Saka: Arsenal lead race to sign £51m upgrade on Nico Williams

The sensational youngster could flourish at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 6, 2025

Manchester City are set to be in the market to bolster their squad when the summer transfer window officially opens for business in the coming months.

The Cityzens dropped points once again in the Premier League as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Southampton, who had 11 points in the top-flight heading into the game.

Pep Guardiola’s side have already missed out on the Premier League title, though, and that may be why the club are eager to bring in fresh recruits, with a fresh report detailing their interest in a Serie A star.

Manchester City make Serie A star a serious target

According to The Telegraph, Manchester City are interested in a deal to sign Tijjani Reijnders from Italian giants Milan in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The report claims that the Cityzens have made the Netherlands international a ‘serious’ target to come in and bolster their options in the middle of the park, as they aim to revitalise the squad.

It also reveals that Milan would want a club-record fee for the central midfielder, which means that it will be in excess of the £57m they once raked in from Real Madrid for Brazilian icon Kaka.

Manchester City should, now, splash the cash to sign the Dutch talent because he could come in as a big upgrade on Ilkay Gundogan in the middle of the park.

Why Reijnders would be a better option than Gundogan

Guardiola swooped to bring the German midfielder back to The Etihad, after a one-year stint at Barcelona, last summer, and it has been a difficult season for the veteran, who has failed to live up to the standards he set in his first spell at the club.

Gundogan had hit double figures for goals in each of his last three seasons at City, combining for 38 goals, but has only produced two goals and five assists in 47 matches in all competitions upon his return.

Reijnders, meanwhile, has racked up 15 goals in 51 matches for Milan in all competitions this season, including three goals in ten outings in the Champions League.

He has provided a regular goal threat from the middle of the park for the Serie A giants, whilst Gundogan is heading into the final two matches of the league campaign without a goal to his name in the Premier League.

Appearances

35

31

xG

6.42

2.74

Goals

10

0

Big chances missed

3

6

Big chances created

7

3

Assists

4

5

As you can see in the table above, Reijnder has scored ten more goals, despite missing half as many ‘big chances’, and has created more ‘big chances’ for his teammates in midfield.

These statistics suggest that the 26-year-old star, whose performances were described as “insane” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has the attacking quality to be miles better than Gundogan for City by offering a consistent threat at the top end of the pitch.

The Milan star has also won 63% of his ground duels, compared to Gundogan’s 48%, and could also offer more to the Cityzens out of possession as a strong midfield presence by winning a higher percentage of his battles with opposition midfielders to regain or retain the ball.

It is now down to City to strike a deal with the Italian team because Reijnders appears to have the quality to be miles better than the German midfielder for Guardiola next season and beyond.

Instant Marmoush upgrade: Man City targeting "world class" £85m star

Man City will be aiming to strengthen this summer

ByRoss Kilvington May 10, 2025

It’s safe to say no Leeds United fan could have envisaged the impact midfielder Ao Tanaka would have had during his debut campaign at Elland Road.

The Japanese international joined the club in a £3.5m deal from German side Fortuna Düsseldorf, a transfer that now appears to be a bargain given his importance to Daniel Farke’s side.

He managed to register 43 appearances in the Championship during 2024/25, scoring five goals in the league, including one against Sheffield United, which was crucial in their promotion battle.

Such displays led to the 26-year-old being included in the Championship Team of the Season, being joined by teammates Jayden Bogle and Daniel James.

If the side are to secure survival in the Premier League next season, they will need to conduct shrewd business, with bargain deals needing to be replicated – just as it was for Tanaka 12 months ago.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new signings this summer

With just a couple of weeks until the transfer window opens, Leeds have already started work on numerous deals and are targeting various players across the globe.

James McAtee and Sean Longstaff are just two midfielders who have been touted with a switch to Yorkshire this summer, with their Premier League experience likely to be vital.

However, other targets have been on their radar, including Borussia Mönchengladbach star Julian Weigl, that’s according to a report in Germany, via Sport Witness.

The 29-year-old, who’s been a target in recent months, has once again appeared on their radar, with the report claiming that Farke is keen on a reunion after their stint in the Bundesliga together.

It also states that he may be lured to Elland Road by his compatriot with the opportunity to be a regular starter in their hunt for survival, said to be in any negotiations.

Why Leeds’ latest target could be even better than Tanaka

The chances of securing Premier League safety in 2025/26 will be a tough task for Farke’s men, that’s especially if recent seasons in the top-flight are anything to go by.

Each of the last six teams to reach the promised land have all suffered immediate returns to the Championship, such is the gap between the two divisions.

Such a feat highlights the need for crucial investment, prioritising quality over quantity to build on the impressive work conducted by the German in recent seasons.

Transfer target Weigl would certainly do just that, with the 29-year-old having key experience at the top level, as seen by his stint at Borussia Dortmund over a four-year period.

When comparing his stats to those of Tanaka from the current campaign, he’s managed to match or better him in numerous key areas, highlighting the quality he possesses.

Games played

33

43

Minutes played

2881

3584

Pass accuracy

90%

88%

% of tackles won

61%

50%

Blocks made

1.7

1.2

Interceptions made

1.5

1.4

Take-ons completed

88%

41%

Aerials won

67%

62%

The German, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Toni Kroos, has registered more passes completed this campaign, whilst completing more take-ons, showcasing the threat he poses in possession.

He’s also managed to win more of the tackles he’s entered, whilst completing more interceptions – handing the Whites an added defensive presence in what’s likely to be a difficult campaign.

Weigl has also won more aerial duels, potentially posing a threat from set pieces, offering a different dimension as the club looks to buck the recent trend in the Premier League.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the Mönchengladbach star would set the hierarchy back this summer, but from the stats he’s produced, he could prove to be a superb addition.

If he’s able to get anywhere near the levels produced by Tanaka in recent months, he will be an excellent option in the top flight and potentially provide the difference between safety and relegation.

Better signing than Vardy: Leeds make move for "extraordinary" £13m CF

Leeds are looking for a new striker this summer

3 ByJoe Nuttall May 23, 2025

Summer has officially begun with a mini-transfer window open until June 10, allowing Tottenham Hotspur to go and strike early recruitment deals ahead of the 2025/2026 season.

Tottenham make transfer plans amid Ange Postecoglou uncertainty

Lilywhites boss Ange Postecoglou is apparently set to learn his fate as Spurs boss this week (ESPN), with supporters still anxiously waiting for chairman Daniel Levy’s decision after an incredibly mixed campaign.

Once-£137m forward wants to join Tottenham after Europa League win

They’re seen as favourites.

10 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 4, 2025

Postecoglou ended the club’s long 17-year wait for a piece of major silverware by guiding them to victory in the Europa League final, at Man United’s expense, but the Australian also led them to a record-breaking 22 Premier League defeats in a single season.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Before Spurs can make real headway on their summer recruitment drive, Postecoglou’s future must be resolved, and reliable club insider Paul O’Keefe recently shared that Levy has in fact made a call on when to do next – without formally communicating it just yet.

With Levy set to communicate his decision sooner rather than later, Spurs can then start getting to work on their transfer plans, if their potential search for a new manager doesn’t take centre stage for too long.

News emerged on Tuesday that Son Heung-min could leave Tottenham this summer after 10 years at the club (The Telegraph), despite Tottenham triggering a one-year extension clause in his contract.

If the South Korean star does leave, Spurs will acquire a fee for his faithful service, but they’d also need a replacement for him. In light of this news, it is no coincidence that Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane is being repeatedly linked with a move to north London.

Dejan Kulusevski is also out with a long-term injury and could take some time to get fully match fit again, so the need for a new winger is pretty prevalent.

Sergio Reguilon is confirmed to be leaving Tottenham as well, with Destiny Udogie now their only senior natural left-back.

Tottenham hold talks over signing New England left-back Peyton Miller

According to New England Revolution journalist Seth Macomber, who covers them for The Blazing Musket, MLS sensation Peyton Miller is now attracting serious interest from the Lilywhites.

As per Macomber, Tottenham have held talks with New England about signing Miller, with Levy and co displaying a real interest in signing the teenager.

The versatile full-back, who can play nearly anywhere on the left-flank, has been called the ‘real deal’ by American critics and is now a regular for New England after becoming the second-youngest player to both appear and start in an MLS match for them.

He could be an adept back-up option to Udogie, and his meteoric rise in the last two seasons looks to have really impressed Tottenham scouts.

Manchester United are now ready to accelerate their move for an “extraordinary” striker, having already made an initial approach, according to a report.

Scholes urges Man Utd to sign two strikers

After missing out on the Champions League, there were some concerns that Man United would be unable to spend big this summer, but they have certainly been splashing the cash so far, having signed Matheus Cunha, while a £60m offer for Bryan Mbeumo is in the works.

A new striker also remains of interest to Ruben Amorim, given Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee’s struggles last season, and Paul Scholes has made the bold claim that two top centre-forwards should be brought in this summer.

Man Utd considering move to sign "incredible" Bayern Munich star for £25m

Amorim has identified a player he believes will transform his midfield and knows the Premier League well.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jun 9, 2025

Scholes said: “I think Osimhen [is free to leave Napoli summer], it sounds like a doable one. When you talk about financial problems, he could be doable. But I’d keep [Rasmus] Hojlund. I know he’s not been great, but he’s a 22-year-old kid playing on his own for Man United the last two years.

“He’s had to play every week, he is the only one. Man United should have at least three top centre forwards. I’d have him and Osimhen and Gyokeres.”

It would be a real statement of intent if the Red Devils were able to bring in both Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres this summer, but they certainly hold an interest in signing the Sporting CP striker.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Man United have made informal contact over a deal for Gyokeres, and they are ready to accelerate the move for the Sweden international, with formal negotiations possible after also pursuing a deal for Mbeumo.

Should United become increasingly fearful of missing out on a deal for the Sporting CP star, they are prepared to step up their interest, but a deal may not be cheap, with the Portuguese club set to demand up to £70m.

Gyokeres could be "extraordinary" signing for Red Devils

Lauded as “extraordinary” by Sporting boss Rui Borges, the 27-year-old scored a remarkable 54 goals in 52 games last season, while he also caught the eye at international level, finishing as the top scorer in the UEFA Nations League.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that a deal could have been wrapped up quickly, had Man United qualified for the Champions League, but Mbeumo still wants to move to Old Trafford, despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur, indicating the Red Devils still have pulling power.

Romano also states that Benjamin Sesko is “the clear favourite” to join Arsenal, rather than Gyokeres, potentially opening the door for the Swede to reunite with Amorim, in what would be a real statement of intent from the Red Devils heading into next season.

Everton manager David Moyes faces a few challenges this summer, most notably set to lose a number of players, experienced ones at that, with Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin out of contract at the end of this month.

With both looking likely to depart, Moyes will need to bring in replacements to bolster his defensive and attacking options.

Jack Grealish could reportedly head to the Toffees, although his wage demands and asking price may deter the Merseyside club.

Another player who Moyes is keen on is Villarreal star Thierno Barry, and he could strengthen Everton’s frontline.

The club are also considering a move for another forward, however, and he could be an even better signing than Barry.

Everton considering move for Barry upgrade

Much will depend on the money that Moyes has available to him this summer. With Profit and Sustainability regulations to be mindful of, the manager will have to spend wisely.

According to the Liverpool Echo, Everton are now considering making a move for Stuttgart forward Nick Woltemade in a bid to bolster their attack.

The Bundesliga striker would be available for a transfer fee of £42m. Whether this is in Moyes’ budget remains to be seen.

He is exactly what the club needs, however. Everton finished the 2024/25 Premier League season with just 42 goals scored, the lowest of any team outside the relegation zone.

As such, a move for Woltemade could be vital if Moyes aims to get his team scoring more next term.

How Nick Woltemade compares to Thierno Barry

Barry scored 16 goals for Villarreal last season, having made the move from FC Basel in the summer. He is also capable of playing out on the right wing, a position which Moyes is desperate to strengthen in the summer.

While the Frenchman would be an excellent signing, pursuing Woltemade is perhaps the better idea.

In their respective domestic leagues last season, the German not only registered a better shots on target percentage (50% vs 36%) than Barry, but he also recorded more shots on target per 90 (1.28 vs 1.09) and registered way more shot-creating actions (4.38 vs 1.78) than the versatile Frenchman.

Woltemade also recorded a 25% goal conversion rate in the Bundesliga last term, whereas Barry’s was only 15% in La Liga.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The German also created more big chances (eight vs seven) and succeeded with more dribbles (1.1 vs 0.5) domestically.

These statistics point towards Woltemade being the most attractive signing for Moyes this summer.

Metric

Barry

Woltemade

Goals

11

12

Assists

4

2

Big chances created

7

8

Key passes per game

0.7

1.3

Shots per game

2.1

1.8

Scoring frequency (minutes)

211

136

Hailed by U23 scout Antonio Mango as “exceptional” following a stunning season for Stuttgart, Moyes would be signing a player with a bright future indeed.

Everton aren’t his only suitors, however, and this could make life difficult for the manager as he eyes up a swoop.

He could be an incredible signing and would prove that the Toffees mean business next season in the Premier League.

The next few weeks will be interesting to say the least. Watch this space, Everton fans.

Everton willing to pay large fee to sign star with over 100 PL appearances

The Toffees could turn to a familiar face…

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 13, 2025

The new feature will kick in for the 16th and 17th overs of the innings, during which only four fielders will be allowed outside the ring

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-2024Matches at LPL 2024 will feature two additional powerplay overs at the death. The two “power-blast overs”, which will be the 16th and 17th overs of each completed innings, will have a maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard circle. This is in addition to the usual powerplay in the first six, where only two fielders are allowed outside the circle.The new feature is designed to create “a more aggressive and thrilling phase of the game”, according to a LPL statement. “We decided to bring this innovation in order to create further excitement for the league, which is growing year by year,” Samantha Dodanwela, the LPL’s tournament director, said in the statement. “This new introduction is sure to generate a lot of excitement among the fans, and the teams will need to strategise effectively to make the most of this period.”Outside of the two sets of power overs, a maximum of five fielders, as per normal, can be in the outfield.LPL 2024 will run from July 1 to 21, clashing in large part with the USA’s Major League Cricket. The latter will feature more high-profile overseas names; the LPL has traditionally struggled to attract foreign talent, given the money on offer, but enjoys some popularity among local fans.The 2024 season, the fifth edition of the tournament, will comprise 20 league matches between five franchises, followed by three playoffs and the final. Each team will play each other twice in the league stage, before four of the five teams make the playoffs.Among the teams is Dambulla’s new franchise, Dambulla Sixers. The Dambulla team’s change in ownership was announced earlier this month, after Sri Lanka Cricket was forced to terminate the previous franchise because one of the co-owners – Tamim Rahman – was arrested by Sri Lanka police under the Prevention of Offences Related to Sports Act.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy and his recruitment team are attempting to navigate a competitive summer transfer market, with a few key items on the agenda for new manager Thomas Frank ahead of a vital 2025/2026 campaign.

Their qualification for next season’s Champions League comes as an almighty boost for the Lilywhites when it comes to bringing in fresh squad upgrades.

Tottenham eyeing experienced £9m club captain after public exit admission

Daniel Levy has been made aware of a potential bargain.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 20, 2025

Spurs are set for a significant financial windfall after booking their place in Europe’s most prestigious competition, and they’ve already put some of it to good use by sealing a cut-price £30 million permanent deal for Mathys Tel.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Tel won’t be their only forward signing either, with Tottenham on the lookout for fresh wingers who could replace current club captain Son Heung-min, who may well have already played his last competitive game for them.

“Son could very well have played his last game for Tottenham, and well, if it was the Europa League final, it would be fitting,” said journalist Graeme Bailey to TBR Football recently.

“I am told he still believes he is more than capable of recapturing his best form – but Spurs are ready to make moves this summer and Son leaving could materialise.”

West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, Man City star Jack Grealish, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, Southampton’s Tyler Dibling and Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo have all been linked with moves to north London in the past week, as Levy and technical director Johan Lange assess which deal is best suited to the club.

One area of the squad you’d think would be far down their priority list, in terms of strengthening, is at full-back.

Destiny Udogie, Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, Ben Davies and Archie Gray – who can play right-back – are all available for Frank to utilise on the flanks, but Spurs are aware of their need for more locally trained players.to comply with Champions League squad rules.

They currently have just one club-trained player in goalkeeper Brandon Austin when they need to register four players who suit that criteria, otherwise their 25-man Champions League squad is in danger of becoming a 22-man one (Alasdair Gold).

Tottenham could make "clever" signing in former defender Kyle Walker-Peters

Bearing this in mind, Levy and co are contemplating a “clever” move to re-sign former defender and soon-to-be free agent, Kyle Walker-Peters, to fill one of the club-trained player spots.

The Englishman would count as a club-trained player as he came through the Hotspur Way academy, and according to reliable journalist Alasdair Gold, Walker-Peters himself is pretty keen on a move back to Tottenham.

“The one I do believe they have considered for this summer is Kyle Walker-Peters,” he said on the Gold and Guest talk Tottenham podcast.

“He’s had a terrific career, over 200 appearances for Southampton, a Premier League regular for a lot of that. I think he has a couple of England caps as well.

“On one side, the full-back spots are pretty busy right now, there are a lot of full-backs there, but as the window goes on, if he’s not been snapped up yet, I can see it as a clever solution, he’s club-trained, he can play on both sides, and from my understanding I think he would love to come back to Spurs as well, they’re his boyhood club.”

The 28-year-old would be an experienced option at zero cost with his deal expiring in just nine days, but it would surely require one of the other full-backs to head out on loan or depart the club permanently.

With Spence able to play at left-back when required, perhaps the best solution would be to part company with Davies for a small fee. The Welshman has proved a reliable squad member and faithful servant over the course of his long stay at Tottenham, but with the 96-cap international’s contract expiring next summer, it could be a smart business decision.