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Tottenham Hotspur could turn to Yves Bissouma after suffering a blow to their chances of sealing a sensational return for Christian Eriksen…

What’s the word?

According to LondonWorld, Spurs will renew their interest in the Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder if they cannot bring the Danish playmaker back to Hotspur Way.

Well, as per Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridges, that does appear unlikely in a gutting blow to supporters. He recently told GIVEMESPORT:

“I did the Brentford Q&A awards last Thursday, and he kind of gave me the impression that [Tottenham] is a non-starter.”

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It’s not the first time that the Seagulls powerhouse has been linked with a switch to north London and after another impressive campaign in the big time, it could be time to make a bid, especially after missing out on Eriksen.

Midfield powerhouse

Spurs have plenty of priorities this off-season, including the additions of a new left-sided centre-back and a stronger right wing-back option. However, with the team in the Champions League next term, then strength in depth will be required.

There won’t be many better candidates to add steel to the engine room than Bissouma, who has proven his worth in the big time over the past 18 to 24 months.

As per WhoScored, he ended the 2021/22 campaign as Graham Potter’s highest-rated player (with 20 starts or more) on WhoScored, averaging a more than respectable 6.99.

His defensive output was pretty remarkable, having averaged 2.9 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game, something that exceeded all of Antonio Conte’s current squad in the Premier League.

Not even stalwart Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (2.2 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game) could match the Mali international’s numbers. The Italian head coach would love a player of that calibre, given his work rate and brute strentgh.

It’s evident that Bissouma, once lauded as a “wonderful talent” by ex-manager Chris Hughton and a “Champions League level” talent by Potter, is an upgrade on what Spurs currently have in defensive midfield and considering his valuation of £31.5m, he should be a very attainable target indeed.

He may be a vastly different style to Eriksen but if anything, that’s a better fit for Conte’s current system, where there is no room for a no.10. Bissouma just makes sense, so sporting director Fabio Paratici must look to pounce when the transfer window reopens.

AND in other news, Spurs now eye £54m-rated “phenomenon” after Perisic, he’s Conte’s dream summer signing…

Gio van Bronckhorst ended the 2021/22 campaign on a high as Rangers won the Scottish Cup at Hampden Park on Saturday.

The Gers missed out on the Premiership title by four points to their arch-rivals and lost in the final of the Europa League but were able to sign off the season with a trophy, the Dutchman’s first in charge of the Glasgow giants.

Although they will be disappointed to miss out on the league and European titles, it was an impressive debut year at the helm on the whole for the retired full-back.

He led the team to a Europa League final and won the Scottish Cup and will now be looking ahead to next season with an eye on winning the Premiership back off the Hoops.

Some of his success can be put down to Ross Wilson’s work in the market last summer as the sporting director bolstered the squad with fresh additions. He brought in John Lundstram and Fashion Sakala on free transfers, and both played big roles throughout the campaign.

The latter was brought in as a versatile forward option and ended the season with 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions.

However, things could have been different in that area of the pitch, as The Chronicle reported just over a year ago that Rangers had made enquiries over a potential deal to sign Jacob Murphy from Newcastle United.

The winger, who joined the Magpies in a £12m deal from Norwich in 2017, was a target for the Glasgow giants before they landed Sakala, but he ended up staying on Tyneside instead of making the switch to Scotland.

Now that the season is finished, it is clear that Rangers avoided a disaster in missing out on a deal for the English attacker. The 27-year-old has endured a rough year with Newcastle, where he has struggled for form and game-time under both Steve Bruce and Eddie Howe.

Murphy has also been embroiled in controversy in the past. Arsenal legend Martin Keown previously accused the forward of diving in a Premier League match, saying: “It’s so wrong. The referee needs to punish that. It’s simulation. It’s annoying. He is trying to gain an advantage. He is trying to cheat the referee.”

Do Rangers want players who attempt to ‘cheat the referee’, as Keown put it?

Certainly not when their statistics are also off-putting. Murphy managed just 13 starts in the top-flight for the Toon and averaged an underwhelming SofaScore rating of 6.68. He found the the net once, whilst missing four ‘big chances’, and only created 0.6 chances per game as he managed a mere two assists.

As a result of his poor form, his value has plummeted to £3.6m on Transfermarkt. This is a whopping £8.4m drop from the £12m that they paid for him initially and proves that he has been unable to live up to the hype in black and white.

His statistics do not suggest that he would have been a better signing for Rangers than Sakala, and that is why the club avoided a big blunder with Murphy last summer.

AND in other news, Ross Wilson plotting Rangers swoop for 16 y/o “teen talent”, GvB will be buzzing…

Last season, Celtic reached the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in 12 years, agonisingly ousted by Bayern Munich, but now their hopes of Europa League progression are already in the balance.

After two league phase fixtures, Brendan Rodgers’ side have just a solitary point on the board, with Kelechi Iheanacho on target during a 1-1 draw with Crvena zvezda in Belgrade, before Braga prevailed 2-0 at Parkhead eight days later.

On Thursday night, Austrian champions Sturm Graz will be the latest visitors to Glasgow’s East End, fresh from beating Rangers 2-1 at Liebenauer Stadium earlier this month.

After this, the Celts’ remaining fixtures at Midtjylland (A), Feyenoord (A), Roma (H), Bologna (A) and Utrecht (H), none of which will be easy, underlining the importance of getting their European campaign up and running against die Schwoazn.

If the Hoops are to claim a first European win of the season, at the fifth attempt, Rodgers must make changes to his attack.

Why Yang Hyun-jun needs to be dropped

On Sunday, Celtic suffered their first domestic defeat of the season, beaten 2-0 by Dundee at Dens Park, both goals coming in the first 45.

Thus, at half-time, a clearly frustrated Rodgers made a double substitution, one which saw Yang Hyun-jun replaced by James Forrest.

The South Korean international registered just 25 touches and attempted zero dribbles, leading to Chris Sutton, speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage at the break, exclaiming “just get him off”, asserting that he’d offered absolutely nothing.

In total, since arriving from Gangwon FC in July 2023, Yang has scored just eight goals and accumulated only nine assists in 74 Celtic appearances, his sole strike of this season coming against Partick Thistle in the League Cup at Firhill.

With star attacker Daizen Maeda still sidelined, there is a void to fill in the Celtic forward line, but Rodgers must look elsewhere and make a change on Thursday night.

Rodgers must start Celtic's "terrific talent" vs Sturm Graz

As mentioned, it was Forrest who replaced Yang at the interval at Dens, with Michel-Ange Balikwisha not introduced until the 64th minute.

Despite limited minutes, he registered a shot on target and accumulated 20 touches, only one fewer than Iheanacho, who played the full 90 minutes, showing glimpses of what he’s capable of so far, certainly enough to warrant a start.

During his time at previous club Royal Antwerp, Balikwisha scored 30 goals and registered 17 assists in 145 games, at his best during the 2023/24 Jupiler Pro League season, his most recent campaign blighted by injuries, as the table below documents.

As the statistics outline, Balikwisha is a high-volume dribbler who is also capable of producing end-product, highlighted by the fact he ranked highly when it came to goal-creating actions, key passes and accurate crosses in the Belgian top-flight.

Journalist António Mango was certainly impressed, labelling him a “terrific talent”, while former Celtic player and manager Neil Lennon is “looking forward to seeing” what he can produce, optimistic he could be the club’s next “really good winger”.

Meantime, upon his arrival in Glasgow, Rodgers described him as a “really talented, exciting player” who “will be an important player for us moving forward”, noting that he “can play both sides of the pitch”, which makes him extra useful.

So, ahead of a pivotal fortnight of fixtures, in the absence of Maeda, Iheanacho will be the first-choice centre-forward, while fellow new recruit Sebastian Tounekti has cemented his spot in the starting lineup, impressing since arriving from Hammarby.

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This leaves one position up for grabs and Balikwisha definitely deserves the opportunity to stake a claim, likely to get the nod on the right, with Yang and veteran Forrest the alternative options, so the Belgian surely has to be in the XI come Thursday’s must win match.

Not just Yang & Scales: 18-touch Celtic dud must be dropped by Rodgers

Celtic suffered their first Premiership defeat of the season at Dundee on Sunday, and one flop, not Liam Scales or Yang Hyun-Jun, must be dropped.

By
Ben Gray

Oct 20, 2025

The Chicago Cubs were blown out by the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night, losing 12-3 at Oracle Park.

During the loss the Cubs gave up one of the weirdest runs of the season on a play that had the Giants' announcers chuckling in disbelief.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Matt Chapman hit a single to right field. Then as he stood on first base he was hit in the head by Kyle Tucker's throw from the outfield. The ball bounced off his helmet and went flying over the catcher before landing behind home plate, which allowed Dominic Smith to score from third base.

Here's how that played out:

Now that is using your head, Matt Chapman.

The Cubs, who have lost two straight to the Giants, will try to avoid being swept when they square off in the series finale on Thursday afternoon.

As Clayton Kershaw struck out Chicago White Sox third baseman Vinny Capra to close the top of the sixth inning and record the 3,000th strikeout of his career, the crowd at Dodger Stadium erupted in celebration. Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,000 career strikeouts, and was met with a standing ovation from the crowd and congratulatory hugs from his teammates.

Among the teammates to embrace Kershaw after reaching this special milestone was Freddie Freeman, who has been counting down the number of strikeouts Kershaw needed to reach 3,000 all season. Since Kershaw returned from injury earlier this year, Freeman has diligently reminded Kershaw after every single start of how many more strikeouts he needs to reach 3,000.

When Kershaw finally reached 3,000 strikeouts, Freeman congratulated him and simply told him, "zero more," via SportsNet LA.

"Freddie does a good job of making me uncomfortable," Kershaw said after the game. "It does show that he cares though and shows that he's happy for me."

"That was special. To be able to do it at home, 18 years he's spent here in front of these fans it's just special," Freeman told Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA. "… For Clayton to do it here, 3,000 strikeouts we might never see that again. we got to witness history and we got him a win out of it too."

Freeman ensured that Kershaw's special accomplishment ended with a win for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who trailed 4-2 entering the bottom of the ninth inning. The Dodgers mounted a ninth inning comeback, and Freeman sealed the victory with a walk-off RBI single, capping off an overall storied night.

Bruno Fernandes has been accused of playing out of his usual position because he wants to do "too much" as Manchester United captain. Former United defender Patrice Evra said Fernandes had carried United on his back in recent years with the numbers of goals and assists he has contributed to the Red Devils but he believes he could do with exerting more control on the team.

• Fernandes having mixed season with Man Utd

  Fernandes rejected a highly-lucrative offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in the summer to stay at United but has experienced mixed fortunes in a hit-and-miss season for the Red Devils. Fernandes has contributed to 10 of the team's 26 goals in the Premier League, scoring twice and getting an assist in their last game against Wolves. 

  The captain, however, has been blamed for United's inconsistent results such as losing at home to 10-man Everton and failing to beat a poor West Ham side in the last three weeks, having pulled off impressive wins over the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

  And former United left-back Evra said Fernandes' tendency to play all over the pitch rather than focus on his central midfield role is preventing him from controlling the team's play as he should.

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  Evra: Hard to tell where Fernandes is playing

  Evra told GOAL, via : "It’s always sensitive to talk about Bruno. It depends what people call a real captain. With a captain, sometimes you can have someone like Roy Keane or a different one. Bruno is giving assists and scoring goals, this has never been the issue. The issue for me is for him to control the team and the tempo when he gets the ball.

  "You couldn't tell me where he's playing because he's everywhere. So sometimes maybe as a captain, you want to do extra, you want to do too much. And at the end, you're not even at your right position. But United wouldn't be where they are in the table if Bruno wasn't playing."

• Evra: Maguire a better player since losing captaincy

  Evra said he has no issues with Fernandes being United's skipper. But he noted how Harry Maguire had a burden lifted from him when he had the captaincy taken off him by Erik ten Hag in 2023. Maguire – who is currently out injured – has changed the narrative around him in the last two seasons with much-improved performances in defence, proving well-suited to Amorim's back three. 

  He has scored six goals since the start of last season, including handing United their first victory at Anfield in 10 seasons and grabbing the famous last-gasp winner against Lyon in the Europa League. 

  Evra explained: "I don't question the fact about Bruno being a captain – he deserves to be captain because Amorim has chosen him. Look at what's happening to Maguire. They got rid of the armband and he now plays like a United player. You saw how people were bullying him on social media or whatever. But he said, I'm staying here."

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  United can't afford to not return to UCL

  United climbed into sixth place in the Premier League after beating Wolves and the challenge is to move into the top four and return to the Champions League after a two-year absence. Evra said United should have no excuse for not qualifying for Europe's top competition, which they did in all but one of his nine seasons at Old Trafford as a player.

  "Under the previous manager, we won the FA Cup and EFL Cup, but you lose a lot by not being in the Champions League," Evra said. "It’s going to be tough. You’ve got Arsenal, City, Chelsea and Aston Villa giving it a real go. If United do not finish in the top four then it’ll be a massive disappointment – a failure. 

  "When I played for United, the goal was winning four trophies per season and now we’re talking about qualifying for the Champions League. Our wages went down by 30 per cent if we didn’t qualify for the Champions League, but we never had that issue."

It might not have been vintage Bruno Fernandes this season, yet, even so, the Manchester United skipper is still the heartbeat of Ruben Amorim’s side, as was evident again on Monday night.

Up against an undoubtedly poor Wolverhampton Wanderers side, the 31-year-old was arguably the deciding factor, netting twice himself, while providing a delicious assist for Mason Mount to convert for United’s third.

Two missed penalties earlier in the campaign may have highlighted a drop in standards, although Fernandes still ranks third in the Premier League for goals and assists in 2025/26, while leading the way again for chances created (45).

The hope will be that the Portugal star can replicate last season’s heroics, which saw him overcome a slow start – having failed to score until Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim appointment – before going on to rack up 38 goals and assists in all competitions.

Suitable for a midfield two or not, the ex-Sporting CP playmaker remains so influential to United’s fortunes – but what will happen if the club are left to make do without him?

Latest on Man Utd's search for a midfielder

It’s worth noting that Fernandes, speaking ahead of his 300th United appearance earlier this season, gave no suggestion that he was angling for a move away from Old Trafford, having openly discussed the decision to turn down a move to Saudi side Al Hilal over the summer.

Nor, however, did the £300k-per-week sensation completely shut down the topic of his long-term future, having relayed that he won’t discuss any potential plans until after the World Cup, with just 18 months left to run on his existing deal.

There have been suggestions that INEOS could even look to cash in on their talisman in order to help fund a midfield overhaul in 2026, with potential replacements seemingly being eyed up.

With that in mind, reports in Spain have claimed that the Red Devils are among the clubs pursuing a move for Real Madrid sensation, Arda Guler, with both Arsenal and Liverpool also in the frame.

The report suggests that United have already ‘accelerated initial contacts’ regarding a possible swoop, with the 20-year-old’s ‘versatility’ noted as a selling point for Amorim and co.

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Whether the LaLiga giants would be willing to sell the Turkish starlet remains to be seen, although prior reports indicate he could command a fee of around £88m.

Why Guler could be the perfect successor to Fernandes

It was a moment that epitomised the genius of Bruno Fernandes.

Picking the ball up just outside the Wolves box, the midfielder – who had been sent off at Molineux just over a year ago – had the vision and the quality to pick out Mount with a stunning dinked pass, building on the two inventive assists he produced at Selhurst Park late last month.

Even when not at his free-flowing best, the majestic talent can still unlock a defence in an instant, possessing the type of creative quality that few can match across the global game.

Finding a successor to such a figure thus appears almost impossible, if not improbable, yet Guler would be a more than worthy option, having been hailed as the “best CM/AM prospect in world football right now” by writer Neal Gardner.

That praise is not without merit, with Como’s Nico Paz the only attacking midfielder under the age of 21 to have registered more goals and assists (ten) than Guler in Europe’s top five leagues this season, as per Transfermarkt.

A key beneficiary of Xabi Alonso’s arrival at the Bernabeu, the rising star has already chalked up ten goals and assists in 22 games in all competitions this term, the same number of goal involvements that Fernandes has achieved back in Manchester.

Like Fernandes, the former Fenerbahce man has the flexibility to flourish in a more advanced role, or on the flanks, although he has blossomed in a slightly deeper role of late, averaging 2.3 key passes per game and creating eight ‘big chances’ in LaLiga this season, as per Sofascore.

For context, back at United, Fernandes has created seven ‘big chances’, albeit while averaging three key passes per game, with the pair both representing the creative hubs for their respective sides.

Interestingly, too, the Red Devils skipper is noted as the fifth most similar midfielder to Guler across Europe’s top five leagues, with regard to their stylistic and statistical likeness, as per FBref, further reinforcing why the Madrid man could fill that possible void in Amorim’s future side.

As indicated above, the pair – across the last 365 days – have enjoyed a particularly similar record with regard to assists, shot-creating actions, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, all key attributes for a playmaking midfielder in their pomp.

In truth, United have rarely seen a side without Fernandes in it, such is his remarkable reliability and availability, although if the day comes where he opts to move on to pastures new, Guler must surely be at the top of the list with regard to replacements.

Prising him from the Spanish capital might not be easy, although with Alonso’s place at Los Blancos seemingly under threat, now could be the time to pounce.

He's like Caicedo: Man Utd ready bid to sign England's "best CM since Scholes"

Manchester United look set to make a huge January move for one English sensation.

By
Ethan Lamb

4 days ago

The MLB season is at the midway point and the top two teams from preseason remain the betting favorites. There are some new contenders making a move up the oddsboard, however. 

The Dodgers remain the betting favorite at FanDuel Sportsbooks with +210 odds. They were +240 before the season began and currently have the best record in baseball at 52-31. 

The Yankees, who were +900 to start the year, are now +650. They are 47-34 and lead the AL East by 1.5 games over the Tampa Bay Rays, who are one of the big movers up the oddsboard with +2500 odds at FanDuel after starting the year +5000. 

The Tigers, who have the second-best record in baseball, are another big mover. They’re currently +850 at FD after opening the year at +3000. 

The Phillies are tied with the Dodgers for the second-best odds at +850. They were +1000 before the season began. 

The Braves are one of the biggest movers down the oddsboard. They opened at +850 but are now +4000. The Braves are 37-44 and in third place in the NL East behind the Phillies and Mets. 

The Mets are +1200 after opening the year +1100. They’ve been going through a cold streak, having won just three of their last 10 games. 

The Orioles are the biggest movers down the oddsboard. They opened the season at +1600 but now find themselves at +21000 after starting the year 35-46 and being in last place in the AL East. 

The MLB All-Star break is July 15 and the trade deadline is July 31. Much will change in these odds between now and then and we’ll be sure to provide an update around those events. But it felt apt to take a look at the odds with most teams either at or just past the midway point of the 162-game season. 

Here are the World Series odds for every team at FanDuel Sportsbook. 

2025 World Series Odds

• Los Angeles Dodgers +210
• New York Yankees +650
• Philadelphia Phillies +850
• Detroit Tigers +850
• Houston Astros +1100
• New York Mets +1200
• Chicago Cubs +1400
• Tampa Bay Rays +2500
• Seattle Mariners +3200
• San Diego Padres +3300
• San Francisco Giants +3400
• Toronto Blue Jays +3700
• Atlanta Braves +4000
• Milwaukee Brewers +4400
• Texas Rangers +4500
• Boston Red Sox +6000
• Minnesota Twins +6000
• St. Louis Cardinals +6000
• Arizona Diamondbacks +7500
• Cleveland Guardians +9000
• Kansas City Royals +11000
• Cincinnati Reds +11000
• Baltimore Orioles +21000
• Los Angeles Angels +34000
• Colorado Rockies +50000
• Washington Nationals +50000
• Pittsburgh Pirates +50000
• Chicago White Sox +50000
• Miami Marlins +50000
• Athletics +50000

Eric Garcia has committed his long-term future to Barcelona, signing a new deal that keeps him at Camp Nou until 2031. The defender, who has established himself as a key starter since his return from a successful loan spell at Girona, admitted his "dream" is to spend his entire career at the club after overcoming a difficult start to life in Catalonia.

• Garcia commits future to Barcelona

  Barcelona have officially secured the services of Garcia for the next six years, with the centre-back putting pen to paper on a contract renewal that runs until June 2031. The agreement marks a significant turnaround for the 24-year-old, whose career at his boyhood club appeared to be in jeopardy just eighteen months ago.

  Having returned to the club from Manchester City in 2021, Garcia struggled to nail down a permanent spot in the starting XI during his initial two seasons, eventually leading to a loan move to Girona. However, after playing a pivotal role in Girona’s historic qualification for the Champions League, Garcia returned to Barcelona with renewed confidence. He has since become an integral part of the defensive setup, prompting the club's hierarchy to reward him with a long-term extension.

  The renewal is seen as a vote of confidence from the coaching staff, who have been impressed by Garcia's ability to play both in central defence and as a holding midfielder and his ability to bring the ball out from the back, a trait ingrained in him during his time at La Masia.

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  'Dream to play my whole life here'

  Addressing the media after the signing, an emotional Garcia opened up about his journey, which he describes as achieving his dream "at the third time of asking." After leaving La Masia for City as a teenager, returning to Barcelona, and then leaving again for Girona, he feels he has finally established himself where he belongs.

  "The dream before leaving [for City] was to triumph at Barca," Garcia said. "When you return, the dream starts again. I had to go to Girona, but my dream was to triumph here, to play my whole life here."

  The defender believes that the experience of playing regular football in a high-performing team allowed him to mature, ensuring that when he reintegrated into the Barcelona squad in 2024, he was ready to seize his opportunity.

  "I have always believed that I could be a starter, whether I played or not," he added. "I am enjoying the starts. But if one day the manager doesn't play me, I will keep believing."

• Ignoring the noise and finding consistency

  Garcia also addressed the heavy criticism he faced during his first stint in the Barcelona first team. Arriving during a tumultuous period for the club, both financially and on the pitch, the young defender often found himself the scapegoat for defensive frailties. He admitted that the pressure was immense but insisted that the experience has given him a thicker skin.

  "When I came back I was very young, we all know how this goes," Garcia reflected. "You go from being the best to the worst. I arrived in a difficult era in which the club demanded results. It kept me calm. Now, neither by playing well am I the best, nor when I mess up will I be the worst.

  "That consistency makes great players," he said. "One has to be calm when things get tough, keep your head down. Afterwards, everything comes."

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  Garcia aiming to keep the dream alive

  With his future now secure, Garcia will look to continue his run in the starting lineup as Barcelona aim to consolidate their position at the top of the La Liga table. The Catalan giants are currently enjoying a strong run of form, and Garcia's partnership in defence has been a cornerstone of that success.

  The defender will likely be in the starting XI again this weekend as Barcelona return to La Liga action against Osasuna at Camp Nou on Saturday, where they will hope to maintain their lead over rivals Real Madrid. Three days later, they face Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey.

Throughout the years, Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been truly blessed with the chance to watch numerous elite-level attackers feature for the club.

Players such as Heung-min Son, Teddy Sheringham and Harry Kane all managed to make themselves club-legends in North London, with the latter breaking nearly every record in sight.

The 32-year-old currently sits at the top of the Lilywhites’ all-time scoring charts on 280, which saw 208 of his efforts come in the Premier League – with only Alan Shearer scoring more.

However, Spurs’ lack of success on the pitch ultimately led to his departure in 2023, which has left boss Thomas Frank unable to have the chance to work alongside the talisman.

He will no doubt want his own elite-level talent within the final third, potentially landing a player of that calibre during the upcoming January transfer window.

Spurs’ hunt for new attackers in January

Over the last couple of months, Spurs have been just one Premier League side linked with a potential deal for Porto star Sami Aghehowa in the winter window.

The Spaniard has been in tremendous goalscoring form during the early stages of 2025/26, as seen by his remarkable tally of 13 goals in his first 22 appearances across all competitions.

However, the Portuguese outfit don’t want to lose their star man anytime soon, subsequently slapping an €80m (£70m) asking price onto the 21-year-old’s head.

He’s not the only centre-forward in their sights ahead of the upcoming window, with Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta another player being considered by Fabio Paratici.

According to one Spanish outlet, the Lilywhites are seriously considering tabling a bid for the Frenchman in January, as his contract talks at Selhurst Park look to have stalled in recent weeks.

It also states that the Eagles may be forced to offload the 28-year-old in the near future to avoid losing him for nothing, with his current deal set to expire in June 2027.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s next Mbeumo

During Frank’s time in charge at Brentford before taking the Spurs job, he often had numerous top-level attackers at his disposal, which helped make the Bees an established top-flight club.

The Dane mainly relied on forward Bryan Mbeumo during the latter years of his spell at the GTEC, with the Cameroonian international providing a constant source of goals in the Premier League.

During the 2024/25 season, the 26-year-old netted a career-best 20 league goals, ending the campaign as just one of five players to achieve the feat in the division.

He no doubt thrived under the 52-year-old across the capital, so much so that the manager made a fierce attempt to land his signature after taking the reins in North London.

However, a reunion just wasn’t meant to be, as Mbeumo opted for a move to join Manchester United during the summer, subsequently leading Frank to hunt for a new talisman.

The likes of Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison have often provided the goods in attacking areas for Spurs this campaign, but Frank could get his new star forward with a move for Mateta this winter.

The Palace star has registered 30 goals in the last two full seasons in England’s top-flight, whilst already making huge waves during the first 15 games of the new campaign.

Mateta already has seven goals in 2025/26, but it’s his underlying stats from his outings at Selhurst Park that would make him Frank’s next star attacker in the capital.

The French international, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has registered 1.6 shots on target per 90 this season, which such a tally ranking him in the top 7% of all players in the league.

Such a figure showcases his relentless nature in front of goal, handing the Spurs side the constant nuisance and goal threat they have lacked since Kane’s departure.

He’s also completed 53% of his attempted dribbles to date, whilst achieving a 75% cross completion rate – highlighting his all-round nature within the final third.

His biggest asset is his hold-up play, which could allow the Lilywhites to have the needed focal point they’ve craved, with the striker winning 2.5 aerials per 90 so far this season.

It could hand Frank the aerial presence needed to dominate in the 18-yard box, but also an option to help link the play and create intricate moves off a direct ball into the striker.

Whilst he operates in a different role to Mbeumo, the pair have both demonstrated their goalscoring prowess in recent times, with clinical goalscorers often hard to come by in the modern game.

Mateta could provide Frank with exactly what he wants in the January window, with such a move handing the Dane the perfect attacking option to kickstart his career in charge of the Lilywhites.

Their new Son: Spurs have held advanced talks to sign a future £100m player

Tottenham are looking to add fresh quality to their attacking flanks in 2026.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 8, 2025