Tottenham Hotspur are looking to finish the season on a high and could land a summer coup involving one of Europe’s highly-rated young defenders, according to a report.
Tottenham Hotspur prepare for Europa League date with destiny
There are no two ways about it; Spurs face arguably the biggest week in their modern existence as Ange Postecoglou prepares his side to take on Manchester United in Wednesday’s UEFA Europa League final.
Financially, the winners of the competition stand to earn £10.95 million for a victory in the final, which has created a unique sense of jeopardy between two of England’s most reputable clubs.
Factor in money accumulated across the course of their run to Bilbao and subsequent qualification for the Champions League, there could be a bounty exceeding £80 million in store for either Tottenham or Manchester United.
However, Spurs may have to navigate the showdown without Pape Matar Sarr after he was taken off during their 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa last Friday.
Speaking about his latest injury scare, Postecoglou stated: “Pape felt something in his back, so we took him off as a bit of a precaution. I don’t think it’s anything too significant, speaking to him afterwards but he just felt something in his back.”
Tottenham Hotspur's most expensive sales of all time
A look at Spurs’ record departures in their history.
ByCharlie Smith Oct 7, 2025
Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison will miss the final for Tottenham, who know the implications of Wednesday’s final and what it could mean when it comes to attracting potential recruits this summer.
Ultimately, having the Champions League carrot ready to dangle could be a key advantage in the race for talent, though they are now reportedly looking at signing a Paris Saint-Germain star who has earned intriguing recognition.
Tottenham Hotspur looking to sign PSG defender Axel Tape
According to Sports Zone, Tottenham are circling for Paris Saint-Germain defender Axel Tape this summer amid his reported decision to leave the French giants on a free transfer.
Bayer Leverkusen are said to be in ‘pole position’ to sign the 17-year-old, while Bournemouth and Chelsea are also in the hunt to offer a Premier League avenue to the youngster.
Likened to Dean Huijsen by Rising Gems, Tape has made three first-team appearances for Paris Saint-Germain this campaign and primarily features as a central defender.
Daniel Levy is well-known for his penchant to facilitate the arrival of young talent to develop into first-team stars, which is a brief Spurs could look to fill once again should the Bondy-born man arrive in London.
Prodigious figures such as Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Mikey Moore have all been given senior minutes this term, even if the root cause of their frequent involvement has been an injury crisis.
Looking to the future, Tape could be the latest to join a conveyor belt of youthful assets who are only going to multiply in value under Postecoglou’s watch.
Leeds United are currently preparing for a huge summer transfer window as they look ahead to trying to avoid instant relegation from the Premier League.
The Whites won the Championship title, with a staggering 100 points, with their win over Plymouth Argyle on the final day, and now have a top-flight season to look forward to.
Daniel Farke and his staff must recruit players who they feel can bolster the squad to improve their chances of survival, and the West Yorkshire outfit are reportedly looking to bring a former star back to Elland Road.
Leeds considering move for Premier League midfielder
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Leeds United are “considering” a deal to sign Manchester City defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips 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 reporter claims that the England international would be “ready” to return to West Yorkshire ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, having left the club to join the Cityzens in the summer of 2022.
Bailey’s report on The Boot Room adds that a permanent deal would be difficult for the Whites to do, because the midfielder has three years left on his contract at The Etihad, and that they are currently eyeing up a loan move for their former academy graduate.
Ipswich Town'sKalvinPhillipslooks dejected after the match
Phillips has spent the current season on loan with Ipswich Town, who have already been relegated from the Premier League, but his previous form for Leeds in the top-flight suggests that he could star alongside Ao Tanaka at Elland Road.
Why Kalvin Phillips could thrive with Ao Tanaka
The Japanese midfielder enjoyed a fantastic season in the Championship with the Whites and showed potential to make the step up to the Premier League, with his passing and defensive qualities.
Tanaka ended the 2024/25 campaign with a pass completion rate of 90% and a duel success rate of 55% across 43 appearances, which shows that he was efficient in and out of possession in the middle of the park.
Leeds will need their midfielders to be reliable on the ball and strong off it in the top-flight, as they will be battling against relegation, and that is also why Tanaka could thrive alongside a physical operator like Phillips, who was once dubbed “exceptional” by U23 scout Antonio Mango.
Appearances
29
43
Pass accuracy
85%
90%
Tackles per game
2.6
2.2
Interceptions per game
1.6
1.3
Duels won per game
5.3
4.5
Duel success rate
52%
55%
As you can see in the table above, the English maestro’s defensive form for Marcelo Bielsa in the Premier League during the 2020/21 campaign was even more impressive than the current Leeds star’s in the second tier this term.
This suggests that the potential is there for them to be a robust midfield pairing who can provide protection in front of the back four, whilst also being reliable with their passing into the front players, which could be needed as they battle it out for vital points.
Of course, there are question marks over whether or not Phillips can get back to that level, having struggled of late in loans with Ipswich and West Ham, losing 57% of his duels in the top-flight for the former and 52% of his battles for the latter.
Perhaps a return to familiar surroundings at Elland Road, where he has been successful at the top level in the past, could help him to return to form.
Leeds could seal best striker signing since Wood with move for 20-goal star
Leeds could land their best striker signing since Chris Wood in a swoop for this star.
ByDan Emery May 7, 2025
Signing him on loan, therefore, could be a worthwhile gamble and one that could pay off for Leeds and Farke as it could result in him and Tanaka forming an impressive midfield partnership.
A year ago, the Hoops broke their transfer record to bring in Arne Engels for £11m, but that was not all, also paying £9.5m to make Adam Idah’s loan move from Norwich permanent, with notable fees paid to sign Auston Trusty, Paulo Bernardo permanently and Luke McCowan too.
Nevertheless, Brendan Rodgers will want to improve his squad further in the upcoming transfer window, so does he have a “quality” new winger in his sights?
The latest on Jota's injury
As reported by Ewan Paton of the Herald, Rodgers confirmed in his Friday pre-Glasgow derby press conference that Jota will be sidelined for up to nine months, after suffering a knee injury against Dundee United on Saturday.
Just five minutes before the injury occurred, the Portuguese winger had helped the Hoops take the lead at Tannadice, it ultimately went down as a Ryan Strain own goal, but that will sadly be his final contribution for a while.
Jota had only rejoined Celtic as recently as January for £8m from Stade Rennais, making 16 appearances and scoring five goals, but now faces a long period on the sidelines.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Given this injury blow, the Celts could be forced to enter the transfer market to recruit a new winger, so has Rodgers identified his top target?
Celtic's winger target to replace Jota
As was reported back in early April, Celtic are believed to be eyeing a move to sign Million Manhoef of EFL Championship outfit Stoke City.
The Dutch youth international joined the Potters in January last year from Vitesse Arnhem, costing a reported £3m, although a potential exit could lie in store this summer.
With that in mind, let’s assess his statistics.
Appearances
52
Minutes
3,431
Goals
11
Assists
5
Then Stoke manager Steven Schumacher praised Manhoef’s ability to run “towards goal, take people on, get shots away”, believing the 23-year-old will only continue to get better.
Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him “quality and versatile”, while Dean Jones of Give Me Sport notes that Manhoef is “the sort of player that will get fans out of their seats.”
The youngster has certainly earned plenty of praise, hence why journalist Graeme Bailey reports that he is now valued at £10m, so let’s assess how he ranks amongst his EFL Championship counterparts this season.
Appearances
34
185th
Minutes
2,422
170th
Goals
5
61st
Assists
5
27th
Shots on target %
35.6%
91st
Shots per 90
2.71
17th
Progressive carries
82
32nd
Progressive passes received
166
44th
Attempted take-ons
132
9th
Successful take-ons
52
13th
Take-on success % (min 100 attempted)
39.4%
19th
Carries into opposition penalty area
53
10th
Touches
1047
241st
As the table underlines, Manhoef is certainly a high-quality and high-quantity dribbler, ranking in the top ten for both attempted take-ons and carries into the opposition penalty area, despite limited touches and the fact he plays for a struggling Stoke side.
Worth noting that a whopping 758 outfield players have featured in England’s second-tier this season, making Manhoef’s high rankings all the more noteworthy.
The 23-year-old also ranks 17th when it comes to shots-per-90, which is pretty impressive, although his shots on target figure of just 35.6% means there is still room for development.
Nevertheless, with Stoke’s season having now finished, Celtic should start negotiations now, before anyone else becomes interested in securing Manhoef’s signature, given that it certainly appears as though he would be an excellent new recruit. He could be the perfect man to fill Jota’s void on the flanks.
Only played 66 minutes: Celtic can fix Jota blow by unleashing young star
With Jota set to be sidelined for an extended period of time, Brendan Rodgers should give Celtic’s “absolutely brilliant” youngster an opportunity.
On Saturday, after Celtic were officially crowned champions at Tannadice earlier in the day, the Gers were held to a 2-2 draw by St Mirren, with Cyriel Dessers and then Nicolas Raskin on target in Paisley.
This means, since the split was first introduced in 2000, the Light Blues have still never won all five post-split fixtures, but it matters not this time round, given that they are 17 points adrift the champions, out of all other competitions too, ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm derby at Ibrox.
So, the primary concern for Rangers supporters is who is going to be their new manager, especially considering next season will start early, given that they’ll enter the Champions League second qualifying round on 22/23 July, so could the new 49ers ownership group hire a “brilliant” boss?
Steven Gerrard's potential return to Rangers
As widely reported by Mark Pirie of the Daily Record, and many others, Steven Gerrard remains amongst the front-runners to return as Rangers manager this summer.
Steven Gerrard
The Englishman has been out of work since being sacked by Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq in January, enduring a pretty underwhelming 18 months in the Middle East, winning only 19 of 55 matches.
Nevertheless, Gerrard’s record during his first spell in Glasgow is very impressive, as the table below outlines.
Pedro Caixinha
26
54%
Zero
Zero
Graeme Murty
35
60%
Zero
Zero
Steven Gerrard
192
65%
1
Zero
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
68
62%
Zero
1
Michael Beale
43
72%
Zero
Zero
Philippe Clement
86
64%
Zero
1
Barry Ferguson
11
36%
Zero
Zero
As the table outlines, Steven Gerrard is both Rangers’ longest-serving manager and also their only boss to deliver a top division league title since the legendary Walter Smith, departing with an impressive 65% win ratio after almost 200 matches.
Andrew Slaven of the Scottish Football Show believes it would be the populist appointment to re-hire Gerrard, but also posits whether or not Michael Beale could return as his assistant, having himself been, as described by former Celtic striker Chris Sutton, Rangers’ “worst ever” manager.
So, the new 49ers ownership group may choose to look elsewhere, so could they hire a soon-to-be out-of-work manager?
Rangers' potential new manager
On Easter Monday, following a 6-0 demolition of Stoke City, Leeds United were promoted back to the Premier League.
A 4-0 drubbing of Bristol City on Monday night took the Yorkshire giants’ points tally to 97, the most they’ve ever accumulated in a single season, and victory at almost already-relegated Plymouth Argyle on Saturday will see them clinch the EFL Championship title.
So why is this relevant to Rangers?
Well, despite achieving promotion, a report by Matt Hughes of the Guardian has suggested that Leeds are considering sacking manager Daniel Farke, due to concerns over his previous record in the Premier League. There are now whispers – perhaps unsurprisingly considering the 49ers’ link – that Farke could end up in the Ibrox hotseat instead.
So, let’s assess the German’s managerial record.
Norwich City
2017/18
60
14th
Norwich City
2018/19
94
1st
Promoted
Norwich City
2019/20
21
20th
Relegated
Norwich City
2020/21
97
1st
Promoted
Norwich City
2021/22
22
20th
Sacked after 11 games
Borussia Mönchengladbach
2022/23
43
10th
Sacked
Leeds United
2023/24
90
3rd
Beaten in play-off final
Leeds United
2024/25
97
1st
Promoted
As the table shows, Daniel Farke is a bit of a Championship promotion specialist, possibly set to win the title for a third time, but his Premier League record is miserable, winning only six of 49 matches, holding the unwanted record of most successive Premier League defeats suffered by any manager, which is 15.
Nevertheless, Neil Warnock believes it would be ridiculous to sack Farke given that he has done a “brilliant job” this season, while Beren Cross of The Athletic notes that Leeds’ ‘senior players praised’ the manager’s style, giving them the ‘freedom’ to play.
Even Pep Guardiola described him as an “exceptional manager” during his time at Carrow Road.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkecelebrates after the match
Nevertheless, should he be dismissed, this is where Rangers come in.
Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe is poised to become the new majority stakeholder at Rangers, so already has a working relationship with Farke, making any appointment potentially straightforward.
Manager Focus
Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.
What Farke has proved is that, when he’s in charge of one of the top teams in a division, he has thrived, possibly making him a more exciting appointment for Rangers than any potential Gerrard return.
Steinsson could hire 4-4-2 boss for Rangers who's a "level above Gerrard"
Rangers are looking for a new manager to take over this summer
At some point this week, Liverpool could be crowned champions of the Premier League, should Arsenal lose at home against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening or Anfield claim three points against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Of course, neither juncture could turn the Reds toward the title, but there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Redmen’s romp toward the finish line has turned into a procession.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
The Premier League is lauded by many as the toughest, most competitive and most prevalently entertaining division in the world, and while some would claim that the top flight has lulled this term, Liverpool have capitalised emphatically to defy pre-season predictions and move Arne Slot within touching distance of the crown in his first year.
It’s quite the feat, especially since he entered an outfit dealing with three contractual conundrums which have itched at Liverpool’s campaign all year long.
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have penned extensions, but there’s been radio silence from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
However, noise from the media suggests that his move to Real Madrid on a free transfer is a matter of when, not if.
What Liverpool will miss when Alexander-Arnold leaves
Alexander-Arnold scored the winner against Leicester City at the weekend, and his celebration felt like a farewell of sorts, hanging his shirt on the corner flag.
While the most optimistic Liverpool supporters are holding onto hope that the 26-year-old will pen a new deal with his boyhood club, Fabrizio Romano and the rest have confirmed that Trent’s camp and Los Blancos are working toward an agreement on a summer move.
He will be missed. Not only is the emotional connection strong, but Alexander-Arnold is one of the most distinctive players in the game.
The unique advantage that the right-back offers, sparking attacking play with such frightening consistency from an unconventional ball-playing position, has helped Liverpool maintain their place as the Premier League’s most creative team for the past five seasons.
*24/25
Liverpool
97
23/24
Liverpool
102
22/23
Liverpool & Man City
103
21/22
Liverpool
97
20/21
Liverpool
82
Conor Bradley may well get the nod as Slot’s first choice at right-back next season, but Liverpool are going to need to replace Alexander-Arnold’s ball-playing genius somehow.
Liverpool lining up potential Trent replacement
Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Liverpool could make a move for two full-backs, namely Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina.
Yet, could Slot replace Trent’s creativity from a different area of the pitch instead?
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, according to Spanish sources, Liverpool are ready to compete with Manchester United for the signing of Xavi Simons this summer, with the RB Leipzig magician now said to be a ‘top target’ for the Reds.
A transfer fee might prove a sticking point, though, with the Germans looking to bank around €100m (£87m) for the 21-year-old this summer, just one year after buying him from Paris Saint-Germain for a €50m (£43m) fee.
However, if sporting director Richard Hughes can move discussions into a more agreeable zone, this could be a stunning capture for Liverpool.
What Xavi Simons would bring to Liverpool
Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting Simons could take Alexander-Arnold’s berth at full-back. However, the little Dutchman is one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in the business, and he’s still got plenty of development left to complete.
However, the Netherlands international does have a similar sort of ball-playing strength that could be utilised and unleashed to preserve Liverpool’s slick offensive play, maybe even unlocking a new dimension.
Matches (starts)
21 (21)
Goals
9
Assists
5
Pass completion
84%
Big chances created
10
Key passes*
2.2
Dribbles*
1.3
Ball recoveries*
5.1
Tackles + interceptions*
1.5
Duels won*
4.4
He’s a complete midfielder, capable of shifting into flanking positions too. Simons’ 2.2 key pass average this term actually stands taller than Alexander-Arnold’s 1.9 average, further evidence that he has what it takes to thrive at Anfield.
But to emphasise it more clearly, the Dutchman ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for progressive passes and the top 7% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.
There’s a reason Simons is shaping up to be such a hot commodity with his talent for picking at the seams of opposition defences, something Liverpool could make good use of, especially if Alexander-Arnold leaves.
Simons’ playmaking superiority over the Liverpool man may in part be down to positional placement but it doesn’t detract from his being a high-level “game-changer” with his passing and flair, as has been said by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
It’s exactly the kind of quality that Liverpool will need. Trent has scored 23 goals and racked up 90 assists across his 350 career appearances as a Liverpool player, described as a “genius” by reporter Neil Jones.
Simons may still be young, but his 41 goal involvements across 72 Leipzig games, partnered with the underlying creative metrics that speak in his favour, do suggest that Slot could make good use of his countryman’s qualities, transferring Liverpool’s playmaking hub to a more central area.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot
It’s possible that Liverpool have accelerated their plans to sign Simons due to the growing sense that Alexander-Arnold is going to leave the club this summer. Maybe, tacitly, those in FSG’s head offices already know the outcome.
With plans already being drawn up for a new centre-forward, it might be worthwhile to sign such a player to sit in behind, jockeying with Dominik Szoboszlai for a regular starting berth and enhancing the overall fluency of the Anfield side.
Xavi Simons celebrates
In any case, it might be good for Slot to steer the creative heartbeat toward the middle of the park, with Simons, who has been described as a “superstar” in the making by analyst Ben Mattinson, capable of anchoring Liverpool’s inventiveness behind the frontline, reorienting toward a more conventional well of supplementation.
Truth is, though, it’s far simpler: the Dutchman is a brilliant young player, one who could do really well in Slot’s Liverpool team.
As big a blow as Trent: Liverpool will rue selling "world-class" star
Trent Alexander-Arnold isn’t the only Liverpool star potentially on the move this summer.
Last week, ahead of the Manchester derby, Kevin De Bruyne announced he will be leaving Manchester City at the end of the season, upon the expiration of his contract.
Pep Guardiola declared this a “sad day” for everyone connected to the club, hailing the Belgian as “one of the greatest” players to ever grace the Premier League with his presence.
Considering De Bruyne scored 106 goals and registered 176 assists in 414 appearances for the Citizens, so far, winning 16 trophies, it’s easy to understand why.
This news, of course, immediately sparked plenty of transfer rumours, speculating who the Sky Blues may target to fill this gigantic void, but do Man City already boast a “future superstar” capable of becoming the next De Bruyne? Could they save themselves millions this summer?
Manchester City's interest in Wirtz and Gibbs-White
As reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, Manchester City have both Florian Wirtz and Morgan Gibbs-White ‘among the options [they] will consider to replace’ the outgoing Kevin De Bruyne.
Morgan Gibbs-White for Nottingham Forest.
Adrian Kajumba and Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports outline how incoming sporting director Hugo Viana is driving much of the Citizens’ recruitment strategy, stating that he is ‘monitoring many players’.
TalkSPORT host Max Scott believes Gibbs-White has been “one of the best players in the Premier League” this season, with the Englishman having scored five goals and accumulated nine assists for Nottingham Forest.
Meantime, Ruairidh Barlow of Football España labels Wirtz a ‘generational talent’, citing Stephan von Nocks’ report in Kicker that claims the 21-year-old is likely to leave Bayer Leverkusen at the end of this season.
Of course, both are unquestionably high-quality talents, but do Man City already boast a bigger future star on their books?
Man City teenager could be the perfect De Bruyne replacement
Manchester City signed Claudio Echeverri from River Plate for a reported fee of £12.5m back in January 2024, before the teenager spent the remainder of the calendar year back on loan with la Banda.
His arrival in Manchester was then delayed further, as he was allowed to compete at the South American U20 Championship in Venezuela, a key figure in the Argentina team that finished second at the tournament, scoring six goals in nine matches.
Analyst Ben Mattinson labels Echeverri a “future superstar”, while journalist Guillem Balague believes he will be among the “next sensations” of Argentine football.
Meantime, writing in the Guardian’s Next Generation of 2023 series, Juan Carlos Pasman praises his ‘excellent close control and dribbling skills’ as well as his ‘exceptional first touch’ and ‘first-rate’ passing ability, labeling him a ‘classic number ten’.
As noted by Pro Future Stars, Echeverri ranks as the third-best ‘infiltrating midfielder’ aged 21 or under, as per CIES powered by Wyscout, so let’s assess his career statistics so far.
River Plate
48
4
8
Argentina U20s
12
6
3
Argentina Olympics
4
1
0
The table outlines both that Echeverri has end-product, especially showing this for Argentina’s U20s, but that he is also very inexperienced, having played a little over 2,500 minutes at senior level for River Plate.
Thus, he is still yet to feature in a matchday squad for Manchester City, hoping that Guardiola will hand him his debut before the end of the season, or perhaps during this summer’s Club World Cup.
So, while it is probably a big ask to expect Echeverri to replace De Bruyne straight away, he is certainly showing the potential to do so one day. As such, the Citizens could potentially save themselves from forking our for the likes of Wirtz and Gibbs-White this summer.
Txiki has struck gold on Man City "freak" who's worth more than Gibbs-White
Man City will be pleased to see this transfer has paid off already
Tottenham Hotspur and Daniel Levy have splashed the cash on a number of attacking players in recent years after losing Harry Kane to Bayern Munich.
The likes of Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson joined in big-money deals from Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest respectively, but before the duo moved to north London, Richarlison was a marquee signing from Everton.
Costing in the region of £60m, big things were expected from the Brazilian, but it hasn’t worked out for Richarlison at Tottenham. The attacker, who has been used through the middle and on either wing during his time at Spurs, has also suffered various injury problems and is on the treatment table again as the run-in begins.
5 players Tottenham Hotspur should sign this summer
Spurs are having a campaign to forget, but how could they correct things before next season?
2 ByBarney Lane Feb 7, 2025
Richarlison did hit double figures for goals in the Premier League last season, but he failed to hit these heights in his other two campaigns for Spurs and was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia last year and a return to the Toffees in 2025.
And with Tottenham’s forwards drawing another blank in their 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in midweek, another striker will surely be on Levy’s wishlist in the summer.
Here, we’ve looked at a handful of centre-forwards Spurs could target to replace Richarlison.
1 Jonathan David Lille
One centre-forward set to be a man in demand this summer is Jonathan David, who is on course to become a free agent at the end of the 2024/25 season.
The Lille star has scored more than 100 goals for his current employers, taking his overall career tally to over 170 goals. He’s been linked with a move to Tottenham in recent times. The Canada international appears to be keen on a move to Barcelona, though, so Spurs may find it difficult to persuade David to move to north London.
12 players who could become free agents in summer 2025
These players are entering the final months of their contracts, meaning they could be on the move very soon…
ByRoss Kilvington May 27, 2025 2 Liam Delap Ipswich Town
Liam Delap has been a shining light in a struggling Ipswich Town side this season and looks set to be on the move even if the Tractor Boys avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The former Man City youngster is into double figures for top-flight goals this season and starred at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a 2-1 win for Ipswich in November, grabbing a goal and an assist.
Spurs have since been linked with a move for Delap, who could prove to be a long-term upgrade on Richarlison.
3 Ademola Lookman Atalanta
Atalanta's Davide Zappacosta celebrates scoring their fifth goal with AdemolaLookman
Ademola Lookman appears to be at the peak of his powers and has starred in Italy for Atalanta in recent years, including scoring a hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
The Nigeria international came through the ranks at Charlton Athletic, but struggled to make a telling impact at Everton and RB Leipzig, as well as during loan spells at Fulham and Leicester City.
However, with Atalanta, Lookman has impressed in a new central role as a second striker or as a centre-forward, finding the net regularly in Serie A and the Champions League.
He’s been linked with a Premier League return, and perhaps Spurs should be in the race if they want to replace Richarlison adequately.
4 Mateo Retegui Atalanta
Atalanta's MateoReteguicelebrates with the match ball
Another attacking star playing for Atalanta is Mateo Retegui, who is the current top scorer in Serie A with 24 goals in 28 games at the time of writing.
The Italy international is averaging a goal every 79 minutes and one of the best goal conversion records in the league, resulting in rumours of a £50m move to Arsenal.
At 25 years of age, he could be an ideal replacement for Richarlison, though Spurs may need to act fast if they want his services.
5 Randal Kolo Muani PSG & Juventus
Before signing Mathys Tel on loan from Bayern Munich, Tottenham were heavily linked with a move to sign Randal Kolo Muani, only for the Frenchman to join Juventus on loan.
There is an option for Juventus to make their move for the forward permanent in the summer, but if they don’t and Spurs decide to send Tel back to Bayern with an upgrade on Richarlison on their shopping list, they could look at returning for Kolo Muani.
He scored five goals in his first three games as a Juventus player, showing his quality in front of goal – something Richarlison has struggled with during his time with Spurs.
6 Evann Guessand Nice
Another forward who was recently on Tottenham’s radar was Evann Guessand of Nice, who, at 23 years of age, could be a smart signing in the long term in north London.
Like Richarlison, the Ivory Coast international has played across the front three and is having his best career to date in terms of both goals and assists. He appears to be a star in the making, so Spurs could be on to a winner with Guessand should they go back in for him this summer.
7 Serhou Guirassy Borussia Dortmund
If experience is what Spurs feel they need in the final third, Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy could be the man to replace Richarlison.
The Guinea international was reportedly open to joining Spurs before his move to Dortmund in 2024 and has continued to score goals on a regular occurrence at the Signal Iduna Park.
Now in his late 20s, Guirassy has already scored more than 10 goals in the Bundesliga and 10 in the Champions League this season, so he could be an excellent addition at the right price.
8 Moise Kean Fiorentina
Moise Kean in action for Fiorentina
One forward who already has Premier League experience is Moise Kean, albeit during a period in his career he’d probably want to forget.
While playing alongside Richarlison at Everton, Kean struggled at Goodison Park, but has since found form once again in Italy, firstly with Juventus and now with Fiorentina.
Still only 25 years of age, Kean has already enjoyed the best goalscoring campaign of his career in 2024/25, and he may feel he has unfinished business in the Premier League.
9 Brian Brobbey Ajax
Spurs reportedly made a late enquiry for Ajax forward Brian Brobbey during the January transfer window, with some claiming he could be a dream addition for Dejan Kulusevski.
A powerful striker who has been dubbed as a future star by many, Brobbey now has more than 50 goals for Ajax in over 150 games, hitting double figures in the last two Eredivisie campaigns.
With Tottenham keen, he could be another to keep an eye on heading into the summer.
10 Lois Openda RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda.
Lois Openda was mooted as an “interesting Richarlison replacement” in 2024, but as we know, a move never materialised.
Plying his trade for RB Leipzig, the Belgium international has continued to impress in the Bundesliga, reaching 21 goals and assists combined in 2024/25 heading into April.
Primarily an out-and-out centre-forward, Openda could form an eye-catching partnership with Solanke, with the former’s pace and the latter’s strength possibly causing havoc for defences.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl only has to wait a few weeks before he can start to bring in his first signings in the January transfer window.
The former Sheffield Wednesday tactician will be looking to bolster his squad in key areas, despite all of the work that was done by former sporting director Kevin Thelwell in the summer.
Thelwell, along with CEO Patrick Stewart, was recently let go by the Gers and is yet to be replaced, which could mean that Rohl is given a large say in what happens in January.
The key areas Rangers need to strengthen in January
A new centre-forward should be on the agenda for Rangers, despite Bojan Miovski’s brace against Kilmarnock on Saturday, because their strikers have not offered enough in front of goal this season.
Per Transfermarkt, no Rangers number nine has scored more than Miovski’s four goals, with Danilo on three goals, and Youssef Chermiti on one goal, which is why Rohl may want a new marksman to provide goals on a regular basis.
The caveat to this, of course, is that things could change in the next few weeks and if Chermiti, Miovski, or Danilo hit a hot streak and look primed to be the main man up front, then a new striker could fall down the list of priorities.
A creative midfielder should also be on their list. No attacking midfielder or winger in the squad has provided more than one assist or created more than two ‘big chances’ in the Scottish Premiership, per FotMob, which points to a lack of creativity in those areas.
Along with a striker and a creative midfielder or winger, Rohl also needs to push the Light Blues to bring a senior and experienced left-back to Ibrox to replace Jayden Meghoma.
Why Rangers need to sign a left-back.
The Brentford loanee, 19, is the only natural left-back at the club at this moment in time, after Thelwell sold Ridvan Yilmaz and Jefte in the summer window.
He has shown some positive signs in possession in recent weeks, though, with a stunning goal against Dundee United and an assist for Mikey Moore against Kilmarnock in the last two league games.
In quotes sourced by PA Media prior to the clash with Kilmarnock, Meghoma reviewed his time at Ibrox so far and said: “The expectation here is really, really high.
“To be honest, I don’t blame the fans either because of the history. We know that as a team, we have to improve. That’s why we were chasing the game so hard. We know that we need to get more positive results. The loan has been amazing. Every experience you have is another learning curve. That’s what I always say. For me, it’s all an experience and I’m learning new things as I’ve been here. For me, it’s a fantastic experience.
“I think you mould quite well here as a player. Every experience I get here, I wouldn’t gain anywhere else. The experience alone is invaluable and it’s one of the best places to play in football at my age, especially.”
As the full-back said himself, he is gaining vital experience in his development by playing regular football at Ibrox, but Rangers have suffered at times as a result of his learning process, and it is Brentford who will benefit from it in the long run, not the Gers.
Appearances
12
5
Goals
1
0
Key passes per game
0.8
0.4
Assists
2
0
Ground duel success rate
61%
64%
Aerial duel success rate
19%
40%
Error led to shot
2
0
As you can see in the table above, Meghoma has particularly struggled in the air as a defender, which is a problem for Rangers when defending set-pieces and crosses into the back post from open play.
It was most evident for Jacob Lungi Sorensen’s goal for Brann in Rohl’s first match. TNT Sports commentator and former Rangers striker Ally McCoist said it was “remarkable” that the teenage defender allowed the Dane to get his head to the ball almost completely unchallenged to score.
Max Aarons has played at left-back, but is a natural right-sider and stunts the progression down that flank, which is why it is so important for the Gers to bring in a natural left-back in January.
The Light Blues need an experienced defender who can be relied upon to deliver consistent performances, without being a defensive liability, so that Rohl has some stability in his backline in the second half of the season.
Signing a proven performer at left-back would also provide Meghoma with a mentor who can help him to continue his development, even if this proposed signing could severely restrict his minutes on the pitch moving forward.
The Brentford loanee may be having an “amazing” time at Ibrox so far, but Rohl must be ruthless to build a squad that can compete for trophies, which is why he must brutally replace the teenager as a starter when the January transfer window opens for business.
Bid already submitted: Rangers could sign a "very pacy" Gassama replacement
Rangers could replace Djeidi Gassama on the wing by signing this reported target in the January window.
Southampton have found their feet again in the Championship and could now be drawing closer to securing a permanent replacement for Will Still.
Southampton look to enter hunt for promotion
Despite a rocky start to the campaign that saw Still relieved of his duties on the South Coast, Southampton have since bounced back under Tonda Eckert and have recorded four straight victories in the second-tier, placing them narrowly outside the playoff slots.
Ultimately, the 32-year-old is only in caretaker charge at the moment. Still, Taylor Harwood-Bellis is enjoying working under his tutelage and praised his attention to detail after Saints’ consecutive victories over Charlton Athletic and Leicester City.
He said via BBC Sport: “I think he (Eckert) has given us everything. The meetings are so detailed with what he wants. There is detail in there that you wouldn’t even think about when you’re on the pitch. That’s a big thing about Tonda, he wants to help you. Against Charlton, the goals we scored were walked through the day before.
“We knew there would be space on the break if we sat off a little bit deeper [against Leicester] and that happened. Obviously there are going to be bumps in the road, we know that. It’s not only going to be plain sailing, but it’s down to us to keep the level now.”
Several names have been mentioned in connection with the post, including former boss Russell Martin, who is available after an ill-fated spell with Rangers.
Either way, the search for a new boss is now seemingly coming to an end, and Southampton supporters may soon know the identity of the head coach tasked with leading the club forward at St Mary’s.
Southampton could appoint Tonda Eckert permanently
According to Football Insider, Eckert is in pole position to be appointed as Southampton’s permanent manager following his successful caretaker stint on the South Coast, and there is now a growing clamour from fans to see the 32-year-old remain on a full-time basis.
Now the clear favourite after guiding Saints to four league wins on the trot, the German is the leading candidate to land the role, even if several other managers have been identified as a long-term successor to Still.
Tonda Eckert in charge of Southampton
Will Still in charge of Southampton
Matches: 4
Matches: 16
Wins: 4
Wins: 4
Draws: 0
Draws: 6
Losses: 0
Losses: 6
Momentum is critical when it comes to influencing public opinion, and it appears that may have seeped into Sport Republic’s way of thinking as they look to map out a path to earning promotion after a rocky few months.
Labelled a “really great coach” by Caspar Jander, Eckert clearly retains the backing of his group and appears to have the trust of figures both inside and outside of the club to lead Saints into positive new beginnings following an acrimonious start to the season for all involved.
If Daniel Farke is relieved of his duties soon by the 49ers regime, how will he be remembered among the die-hard Leeds United fanbase?
First and foremost, there will likely always be some fondness towards the German from the Elland Road faithful for being the manager who delivered a promotion back up to the Premier League, having collected the Championship title on a mighty 100 points.
But, in the here and now, that title success – and the subsequent parade that merrily went through Leeds city centre – feels like a lifetime ago, with the ex-Norwich City boss continuing to struggle in the Premier League as a head coach.
A change could soon come then, with the Whites now five defeats from their last six league games and stuck in 18th spot.
Unfortunately, though, Leeds haven’t always got it right when getting right of celebrated promotion winners in the past, with Marcelo Bielsa’s replacement coming in the form of Jesse Marsch, who could only muster up a weak 11 wins from the pressurised dug out.
On top of that, his track record in the transfer department left a lot to be desired when he was situated in West Yorkshire, with all of his hits, followed by a large list of poor misses.
1. Georginio Rutter
£35.5m
Marsch
2. Brenden Aaronson
£28.5m
Marsch
3. Rodrigo
£26m
Bielsa
4. Dan James
£25m
Bielsa
5. Luis Sinisterra
£21m
Marsch
Ranking Marsch's signings at Leeds
Amazingly, Marsch would sign off on Leeds’ two most expensive captures of all time during his whirlwind 12-month stint in England.
Georginio Rutter never really kicked into gear at the Whites under the unpopular American’s management, but considering he managed to put away eight goals and 18 assists in the end, largely under Farke, he is definitely seen as a success story, having also banked Leeds £40m when he moved to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Another standout success story from Marsch’s spending is Wilfried Gnonto, even if he is not now a regular under the current regime.
Landing the tricky Italian for just £3.8m continues to stand out to his day as an almighty bargain, with the ex-FC Zurich attacker even managing to star under Marsch, when collecting three goals from just 12 games under his methods, which included this fierce effort being thumped home.
Unfortunately for Marsch, this is where his positives in the transfer department begin to dry up, with a vast majority of the ten other signings made under his short-lived tenure no longer at the club.
Luis Sinisterra would at least manage to bag a promising five league goals at Elland Road, to somewhat justify the lavish £21m dropped on his services, but much like Tyler Adams, Rasmus Kristensen, and Marc Roca who all joined the Leeds ranks together at the same time, this wave of disappointing pick-ups couldn’t leave the building any faster after relegation was confirmed.
Weston McKennie has also left a bad taste in the mouth up to the present as a failed loanee under Marsch, with the American midfielder registering just one forgettable assist from 20 appearances, which led to the ex-Juventus man labelling the short stint as one of the “lowest” points of his varied career.
The elephant in the room now is, of course, the fact that the current Canada boss was the figure who first brought Brenden Aaronson to English shores, with the former £28.5m purchase a constant source of frustration.
Marsch couldn’t quite get a tune out of the ex-Union Berlin man, despite working closely alongside him at RB Leipzig, with just one sorry goal all he could muster up, before his fellow compatriot’s dismissal.
Thankfully, Farke has managed to get the best out of the 25-year-old in flashes, particularly in the Championship. Yet, with just one goal and one assist all he wrote this season in the Premier League so far, the consensus will be that Leeds overpaid back in 2022 when securing the hit-and-miss playmaker’s services for £28.5m.
25/26
13
1 + 1
24/25
47
9 + 2
Still, Aaronson does have his nine strikes to fall back on during Leeds’ phenomenal promotion journey.
Whereas this summer recruit has little to cling onto, as he already looks to be an even bigger waste of money than Aaronson’s much-talked-about arrival.
Leeds have made a bigger error than Aaronson
Much like the West Yorkshire giants showed off during Marsch’s reign, significant wads of cash were also dropped in the off-season to try and prepare Leeds for the gigantic leap up to the Premier League.
A position that was in dire need of upgrading was definitely in between the sticks, with Illan Meslier overstaying his welcome as Leeds’ number one goalkeeper by the time a top-flight return was officially clinched, having become error-prone during the Whites’ vital promotion run-in.
Therefore, Leeds must have thought they’d hit the jackpot when they secured the services of Lucas Perri for a substantial £13.9m, with the Brazilian ‘stopper previously being tipped to be one of the “best in the world” in his position by his former manager Paulo Fonseca.
However, the top-flight newcomers have yet to see the calm and assured version of Perri that regularly shone for Lyon – with ten clean sheets falling into his lap last season in Ligue 1 – with the South American receiving plenty of pelters, instead, particularly when he conceded this Morgan Rogers free-kick last time out, as he bizarrely remained rooted to his spot.
Off the back of leaking this effort from Rogers, Perri has now given up a costly eight goals across his string of depressing clashes in November, with the underlying numbers overall – away from just goals conceded – also pointing in the direction of the number one being a colossal waste of cash.
Indeed, it’s unclear now if Leeds have even upgraded on a wobbly Meslier, with Meslier arguably a better option at this point, with his 21 clean sheets in the tough division to date an impressive tally, weighed up next to Perri’s two so far.
The drop-off from his standout Ligue 1 campaign last season is also extremely worrying, with Perri averaging a 74% pass accuracy in the French top division, compared to him now regularly mis-hitting passes, at a far lesser average of 57%.
Of course, the defenders do have to share their load of the blame here for the recent porous displays, but the backline cannot be confident whatsoever, having a ropey Perri behind them, with ex-Leeds player Jon Newsome rightly suggesting that Farke and the 49ers had “wasted funds” after the demoralising 3-1 defeat at the City Ground.
In another reality, Leeds might well have been better sticking with what they had over splashing £13.9m on Perri, with Aaronson at least putting in bright performances here and there this season, while the new ‘keeper has routinely suffered.
Indeed, one Leeds content creator would even hail his showing against West Ham United as “his best in a Leeds shirt”, with eight duels won against the Hammers, standing him in good stead for any relegation scrap that comes, away from also firing an effort home.
The relegation-threatened side would have hoped they’d moved past notable blunders in the transfer department when Marsch left the building, but it looks as if Perri could now be seen in the same light as failed faces such as Sinisterra and Adams down the line, particularly if relegation is grimly served up and the Whites struggle to offload him.
Leeds in one of the biggest transfer battles of all time for England midfielder
He could add so much quality and bite to the midfield.