GIVEMESPORT

Highlights

The number nine shirt at Tottenham is prestigious, signifying top strikers who deliver consistently.

Jimmy Greaves wore the shirt briefly, but he is more famous for wearing the number eight and ten shirts.

Bobby Smith tops the list, leading with impressive goal-scoring stats during Spurs' most successful era.

Numbers on football shirts hold immense significance around the world. They may not hold any true 'power' over others, but their prestige and history mean the best players around the globe always want to wear the 'best numbers'. The number nine shirt is one of the most popular for strikers.

Immediately, it highlights that they are the number-one striker for the season. It brings a weight of expectation, knowing they should latch onto the ball, create space in the final third and regularly find the back of the net. That's never easy to replicate, especially in one of the hardest competitions in the world, the Premier League. Tottenham Hotspur stars have found out just how hard it can be to shine in the number nine shirt over the years.

Due to this, we have decided to rank the nine greatest players to wear the number nine shirt at Tottenham. However, it's important to note that some legendary players did wear the number nine shirt, but it was such a short period of time that they have not been included — Ricky Villa and Osvaldo Ardiles fall under this category. Meanwhile, before numbers were set for the whole season, several players wore more than one number during a campaign, including Chris Waddle.

Ranking Factors

Longevity - The number of club appearances and their consistency — including how long they wore the shirt for.

Output - Key attacking metrics such as goals and assists.

'Eye test' - Whether they were capable of causing defenders nightmares.

Years in the number nine shirt: 1999-2003

Les Ferdinand supported Spurs as a youngster. They were his boyhood club, so when they signed him for £6 million from Queens Park Rangers, it was a dream come true. In his first three seasons, he scored just 12 goals as injury heavily impacted his time at White Hart Lane.

However, just as he took the number nine shirt in 1999, he started to shine, scoring 10 goals in the 2000/01 campaign and a further 15 in the following season. There's no doubt he was not one of Tottenham's greatest strikers ever, but his prolonged spell in the shirt - whilst always showing immense determination - means he features on this list.

Years in the number nine shirt: 2020-2021

Everyone knows Gareth Bale. Converted from a pacey left-back to one of the greatest wingers of all time, the Welshman was a role model for so many, carrying an inconsistent Spurs team on his back. That came during his first spell at the club, yet what is sometimes forgotten is that he returned on loan for the 2020/21 season as Spurs' number nine, which is being focused on for this list.

At that point, he was reaching the end of his career, yet he still managed to score 16 goals in 34 matches. He dropped deep, played centrally and ran down memory lane. Most notably, his stunning first goal of the season at home to Brighton showcased his transition from a winger to a header-focused number nine. The only downside is that it was all behind closed doors.

Years in the number nine shirt: 1985-1989

Plying his trade as an attacking playmaker, Chris Waddle was not a conventional number nine. However, Waddle, who is one of England's greatest players of all time, joined the club in 1985 for £590,000 and made an immense impact during his four years at the club.

From either side, he was a constant threat, but he remarkably never won a trophy, only picking up the individual Player of the Year award in 1988. 41 goals in 165 matches was a phenomenal record for him — and Spurs fans have always believed it was a shame he had to be sold due to financial woes.

Years in the number nine shirt: 1992-1999

During the 1990s, Spurs failed to succeed compared to their biggest rivals, Arsenal, but that does not mean they did not have several world-class players. Darren Anderton had a nine-year spell as the club's number nine, despite being a winger, not a striker. He typically dazzled his way past opponents, always looking to beat them one-on-one and break into the final third.

In a similar role to Heung-min Son, he enjoyed picking up goal contributions as well, registering 110 in 351 matches. His longevity places him higher than some of the best Tottenham players of all time, who wish they could have shone for as long as him.

Years in the number nine shirt: 2006-2008

There's very few players who have ever been considered so highly by Spurs fans despite being at the club for such a brief spell. However, Dimitar Berbatov went against the grain, with his elegance, style, composure and sophistication allowing him to glide through the final third.

If you wanted an entertaining player to watch, he was your man. However, the Bulgarian was feared in the final third just as much, picking up 46 goals and 29 assists in 102 matches. His form in N17 secured him a move to Manchester United, but he has forever remained a member of Tottenham's Hall of Fame — for good reason.

Years in the number nine shirt: 1951-1957

Going back through the decades, Len Duquemin set the tone for what the perfect Tottenham striker is all about — goals, goals and more goals. Over a phenomenal career, he scored 134 goals in 307 matches, which places him ninth on the all-time list. He foreshadowed his blossoming career in north London when he scored on his debut during a 5-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday, whilst he helped them win the First Division in 1951 — just a year after winning the Second Division. With the nickname of 'Reliable Len', he was known for his hard work rather than being a stylish player.

Years in the number nine shirt: 1964-1965, 1967-1968

Jimmy Greaves would typically place higher than this. He's Tottenham's second-greatest striker of all time, with only Harry Kane judged above him. However, most of his spell came in the number eight or ten shirt. With 268 goals throughout his time in north London, he stood as the club's record goalscorer until a particular England captain came along. His ability to find space in the final third and produce powerful shots out of nothing was masterful — and he will forever be a Spurs legend. "Give him an inch and he'll take a mile," the famous saying goes; that summed him up perfectly.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Greaves scored 15 hat-tricks at Spurs — a club record.

Years in the number nine shirt: 1967-1976

In the era following Greaves, Martin Chivers plied his trade as a world-class striker in the final shirt. As a classic number nine who found space in the box and consistently fired home goals, he helped them win the UEFA Cup in 1972. In that season, he scored 44 times in 64 first-team appearances, whilst he saved his most impressive form for the actual European competition, scoring eight times in 11 matches to help the club to victory. The striker was billed as 'Big Chiv' for his sturdy physique, natural strength, fast speed, big movements, and flashy shooting technique, which now sees him named a legend in N17.

Years in the number nine shirt: 1956-1964

Finally, Bobby Smith has been ranked as Tottenham's greatest-ever number nine. Wearing the famous shirt for eight years, he dominated matches, acting as a true striker who always looked lethal. It came during Spurs' most successful spell in their history, as they became the first-ever English side to complete the double in 1961 and the first side from the nation to win a European competition in 1963.

In the double-winning campaign, he was the club's top scorer with 33 goals scored in 43 games, including the first of the two goals in the 1961 FA Cup Final. His longevity places him at the top of his list, knowing it's unlikely the north London side will ever have a more consistent number nine.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is keen to bolster his squad once again after confirming the signings of multiple top young talents already this summer - with Juventus star Manuel Locatelli thought to be on his shortlist with Spurs aiming to implement control in their engine room this summer.

Locatelli has been at Juventus for three years after impressing whilst at Sassuolo, and he's been a huge part of their squad by only missing 15 Serie A games in that time, helping them through a rocky period of their history.

But with mass change ongoing at clubs across the continent, he could be on his way out - with Football Insider suggesting that Tottenham are keen to wrap up a deal for his services.

Tottenham 'Plotting' Locatelli Move

The midfielder could move to north London in the near future

The report states that Tottenham are 'plotting' a move to sign Juventus' Locatelli to bolster their central midfield options.

Football Insider senior correspondent Pete O'Rourke stated that manager Postecoglou wants to sign another central midfielder to solidify his ranks in the centre of the park, despite boasting top young talents such as Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Pape Matar Sarr and more - with Locatelli's experience being paramount to their success.

The Italian, who has been described as a "monster", is high on Tottenham's transfer list, and is seen as the natural successor to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg who departed for Marseille earlier in the summer. The report states that Juventus would be willing to sell the former Sassuolo star for a fee in the region of £20million, with his versatility seen as a huge bonus for the Lilywhites as they compete on four fronts this season having qualified for the Europa League last time out.

Tottenham have had success signing players from clubs in Italy in the past few seasons, with Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie and Dejan Kulusevski alone being three superb acquisitions, and so Locatelli could be on their agenda.

The midfielder provided six assists in all competitions last season, with a goal to add the cherry on the cake as Juventus qualified for the Champions League and won the Coppa Italia in a decent season for Bianconeri.

Tottenham Need to Bring in Experience

Youth signings must be counteracted with stars who have done it all

Spurs have massively bolstered their youth ranks under Postecoglou and if they can push on to record a top four finish, their efforts will have been massively rewarded. Gray and Bergvall are astute signings, whilst the addition of Dominic Solanke has given Tottenham exactly what they need going forward in terms of a frontman after failing to replace Harry Kane last summer.

The confirmation of Burnley's Wilson Odobert is another huge sign that Tottenham are planning towards the future with a whole host of Europe's most exciting young players.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Tottenham have already spent £126million this summer.

Locatelli is slightly different. At 26 years old, he is older than most of the crop they have brought in but with 243 Serie A appearances, the midfielder has plenty of experience and that includes the 29 appearances he has made in European competition, alongside boasting 28 caps for Italy.

That experience on the big stage can be invaluable, especially when bringing in players that haven't quite garnered that level of guidance despite boasting big potential.

Aston Villa could well be handed a boost in their pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur star Giovani Lo Celso as we enter the final two weeks of the Premier League's transfer window - with Fabrizio Romano exclusively telling GIVEMESPORT that the west Midlands club could go head-to-head with Real Betis to sign the midfielder with Tottenham potentially still wanting to do business.

Lo Celso signed for Tottenham on loan at the start of the 2019-20 season, and after five largely unsuccessful seasons in white colours - one-and-a-half of which have been on loan at Villarreal - it is still unsure as to where his future lies. But that could be Villa, with Romano stating that they could be in a race with Betis.

Villa Have Been Linked With Lo Celso Before

The Midlands club have a long-standing interest

It's clear that Emery massively rates the Tottenham star having managed him at Paris Saint-Germain and Villarreal. Reports earlier in the summer suggested that Villa had taken a keen interest in the former Betis man, which could now accelerate after their pursuit of Joao Felix stalled with the Portuguese potentially joining Chelsea instead.

There has been a development on his potential Tottenham exit with TyC Sports claiming that Villa were expected to go head-to-head with his former Andalusian club in a bid to secure his services.

He is not a part of Ange Postecoglou's plans for the upcoming season and so with Tottenham looking to bring in other targets after securing the signings of Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert, incoming cash is vital for them to strengthen and Lo Celso's exit could be paramount.

Romano: Aston Villa Remain a 'Possibility'

The midfielder has been linked with a move through the summer

Speaking exclusively to GIVEMESPORT, Romano stated that the Villans could be a possible destination for Lo Celso - who earns £100,000-a-week - despite the Argentine turning down a move to other European clubs.

He said:

"For Lo Celso, there are two possibilities - Aston Villa and Real Betis. He rejected some options out of Europe as an opportunity in the recent days, and so let's see what's going to happen.

"But I think Tottenham could still do business."

Lo Celso Could be Villa's Missing Jigsaw Piece

The creator could give Ollie Watkins a lot of ammunition

Villa do have a lot of midfield options, but it is clear that they want to sign someone who can create chances in an advanced role. They have previously been linked with Carlos Soler, whilst recent links touted them with a move for Sporting Lisbon star Pedro Goncalves and so it is clear that Emery wants someone who can manipulate the ball in the final third and create chances in tight areas.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Giovani Lo Celso has scored 11 goals in 108 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur.

Emi Buendia and Jacob Ramsey are the main current options for that, but the signings of Ross Barkley who acts deep, alongside Youri Tielemans and John McGinn, with Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara challenging for the No. 6 role means that there likely is room for one player to come in and dictate play behind Ollie Watkins.

The sales of Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby to Juventus and Al-Ittihad respectively, alongside the sale of Cameron Archer to Southampton, mean that Villa haven't had a huge net spend and now the onus is on the club to make the most of their Champions League money to properly strengthen their squad after a measly window so far.

Highlights

Leicester City face Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night as both sides look to kick off the campaign with a win.

The Foxes could be without Jamie Vardy after he missed a lot of pre-season.

Richarlison and new signing Dominic Solanke could miss out for Spurs.

Leicester City will host Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League return on Monday night after one season away. With newly-appointed Steve Cooper at the helm, the Foxes did their part to ensure their stay in the Championship was kept brief, but the aim is now to prioritize survival, first and foremost. However, after suffering defeat in all three of their most recent pre-season outings, failing to score a single goal in the three and conceding four instead, it was far from the ideal conclusion to their pre-season.

Ange Postecoglou's men will be much more spirited ahead of the clash, having recorded victories in six out of eight pre-season ties. There were plenty of positives to take from Spurs' pre-season preparations, with the standout displays of 18-year-old Archie Gray, and the recent signing of Bournemouth star, Dominic Solanke.

Both sides will be looking to make a statement of their own and, given the changes in both squads, both managers may be looking to tweak their set-ups from last season as well. With that in mind, here is our predicted starting XIs this weekend for Leicester City and Tottenham.

Leicester City Team News and Injuries

Jamie Vardy was absent for most of pre-season

Leicester City face a daunting task as they transition back to the top flight, especially given the departure of influential midfielder, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, to Chelsea. Regardless, it is vital for the East Midlands side to get off on the right foot and Cooper must craft a capable team with the players he has at his disposal for that to happen.

That said, it looks as though Leicester could be without three starters. Former Golden Boot winner and 26-cap England international, Jamie Vardy, was missing for the major part of the team's pre-season and with little time to build up match fitness, it is unlikely the 37-year-old will be rushed into the starting line-up any time soon. Additionally, Conor Coady was excluded from the squad for the friendly against RC Lens, while Patson Daka limped off in the first half, and both are uncertainties for the opening matchday.

Leicester City Predicted Starting XI

Similar to his predecessor, Enzo Maresca, Cooper has proclaimed a preference for a 4-3-3 style. His football is known to be rather pragmatic, which is logical given the club's level of ambition this season, and fans can expect defensive stability to preempt all else.

The partnership between Wout Faes and Jannik Vestergaard should remain ahead of Mads Hermansen, with James Justin and Ricardo Pereira on either flank - this back five was a fairly familiar spectacle throughout last season.

While Wilfred Ndidi and Harry Winks are set to make up the bulk of the midfield trio, the third spot remains up for grabs in the wake of Dewsbury-Hall's departure and Cooper has seemingly trialled various replacements in pre-season, including Boubakary Soumare, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Hamza Choudhary. Given the heat of the Tottenham attack, a defensive solution would make sense, and Soumare's extensive experience with Leicester, Lille and Sevilla gives him the edge over his competition.

Finally, the trickery from Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi on the wings with Bobby Decordova-Reid as stand-in for the unavailable Vardy and Daka, looks the most likely answer to the frontline.

Tottenham Hotspur Team News and Injuries

Dominic Solanke and Richarlison could miss out

Having finished just two points adrift of a place in the Champions League last year, Tottenham weren't far from where they would wish to be, and Spurs supporters will be hoping to see Postecoglou build some continuity and secure a place in the top four.

A strong start would aid the confidence of fans and players alike and the Australian manager has a largely fit squad to choose from for the season opener. Richarlison missed the entirety of pre-season due to a calf injury, and it would be illogical to hurry the Brazilian into the squad at this stage.

Spurs' exciting summer coup in Dominic Solanke is in a similar position - the forward's 64 minutes towards the end of July as part of Bournemouth's pre-season preparations remains his only source of match fitness so far, and it is unlikely he is involved.

New signings Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall have impressed during pre-season and could be in contention for starting roles. However, with limited top-flight experience, they may be introduced from the bench instead.

Tottenham Hotspur Predicted Starting XI

Postecoglou has often opted for a 4-2-3-1 set-up, utilizing a double pivot in midfield behind a more advanced, creative midfielder, and this could well be the case for the side's trip to the King Power Stadium.

The defensive quartet seems set in stone, as was the case last year, with the duo of Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven proving to be quite effective. 21-year-old star, Destiny Udogie, will be looking to build on his debut season last year with Pedro Porro likely to claim his spot on the opposite side.

James Maddison will certainly be on the team sheet for as long as he remains fit, but the midfielders alongside him could vary with competition. But given their individual experience with the league though, Yves Bissouma and Malang Sarr will likely start in this tie.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to conclude their summer transfer business on a positive note and, according to HITC, Ange Postecoglou and his entourage are among those who are keeping an eye on 18-year-old central midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl.

So far this summer, the Greek-Austrlian chief has snared the likes of central midfield duo Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray as well as winger Wilson Odobert, while their marquee summer addition Dominic Solanke was signed from Bournemouth for a club-record fee of £65 million.

Postecoglou and Co, ahead of an all-important season, however, are scouring the market - alongside a host of England clubs this summer - for another central midfielder in the hopes of bolstering their engine room options.

Hjerto-Dahl on Tottenham’s Radar This Summer

A host of English clubs also in the race for his services

Coming through the ranks at Tromso IL in his native Norway, the youngster got his first crack of the whip at senior football last year and has sharply emerged as a regular in their first team, featuring in all but one league outings this season.

Able to operate in a role in the heart of the engine room or in a deeper role in front of the back four, his large stature makes him stand out in a sea of bodies – as does his adaptability when performing an array of midfield-based roles.

A series of top English clubs are keeping an eye on the imposing central midfielder, according to HITC, which means Spurs could have trouble in their pursuit of the 6ft 4in starlet, who has been capped four times by Norway’s Under-19s.

The report states that, although Tottenham have been monitoring his situation in recent months, the likes of Aston Villa, Liverpool, Everton, Fulham, Sheffield United and Coventry City are all keeping tabs on the midfield ace.

Alongside the English sides mentioned, Bundesliga duo Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen are also keen on the teenage sensation and could make a move before the summer transfer window closes for business.

Tottenham 'Keeping Tabs' on Gallagher Situation

Aston Villa also in the mix for his signature

Should the north Londoners opt for a more experienced and Premier League-proven midfielder this summer, Chelsea outcast Conor Gallagher could be an option given Tottenham chiefs have 'wanted' the Epsom-born ace's services all summer.

More recently, Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth exclusively told GIVEMESPORT that Tottenham will be keeping an eye on Gallagher's situation after a move to Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid hit a stumbling block. A potential club-to-club move within the top tier has now been mooted with Aston Villa also in the race for his signature, per Sheth.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Gallagher has notched 43 goals and 41 assists in his 305-game career.

The 24-year-old, in an expensive midfield boasting Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, was often the standout performer for ex-boss Mauricio Pochettino, but Enzo Maresca's arrival at Stamford Bridge has seen him - alongside others - pushed to the side.

Am 18-cap England international, Gallagher would be a brilliant acquisition for those residing in the Premier League given his experience - 136 outings, to be precise - in England's top division, but given his move to Spain is not dead in the water, the hard-working midfielder could bid farewell to his days in England.

Tottenham Hotspur have announced the arrival of a former Premier League winger as Ange Postecoglou looks towards securing the future of the club - with Burnley winger Wilson Odobert joining the north London outfit on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Tottenham's campaign begins on Monday night at Leicester City, and having secured the marquee signing of Dominic Solanke earlier in the week, there is a real sense of optimism ahead of the new campaign with Europa League football to boot after their fifth-placed finish in the top-flight last season. And that confidence has been heightened further with the signing of Odobert, who joins Tottenham out of nowhere with reports only suggesting he would be on the move just moments before his signing was completed.

Odobert Makes Tottenham Hotspur Switch

The young Burnley star has made his way to London

A report from journalist Sacha Tavolieri suggested on Friday morning that Odobert was close to joining Tottenham, having passed a medical on Thursday afternoon in the capital.

The winger wasn't present at Burnley's Gawthorpe Hall training ground on Friday morning, having travelled down to north London to undergo his medical tests, and as a result, the report stated that his move was 'very imminent'. That was confirmed just under half an hour later, with the winger set to wear the No. 28 shirt for the Lilywhites over the course of the season.

Tottenham have been searching for a young winger throughout the window having been linked with Desire Doue of Rennes prior to his impending move to Paris Saint-Germain, and Odobert will offer a similar profile as Postecoglou bulks out his squad with more young talents as Tottenham look towards the future alongside the arrivals of Archie Gray from Leeds United and Lucas Bergvall.

Odobert is an Underrated Signing

The youngster already has a year of Premier League experience

On the face of it, Odobert suffering relegation with Burnley could put a few Tottenham fans off getting excited over his arrival, but the winger has all the tools to become a top player for them.

Six goal contributions in a Burnley side that largely struggled last season is by no means a poor tally, and after scoring in his only Championship game of the season in Burnley's 4-1 drubbing over Luton Town, Odobert has shown that he can cut it in English football at the age of just 19.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Wilson Odobert was released by PSG in the summer of 2022.

The Clarets paid £11million for his services from Troyes last summer and gave him a year of experience in the top-flight, with 29 games under his belt and that experience could be invaluable for Postecoglou, with the Australian boss having trust in his man to deliver the goods should he have to rely on him in the wide or central areas.

Doue was evidently their first-choice but with super clubs PSG and Bayern Munich interested, his arrival was somewhat unrealistic and at the age of just 19, Odobert now has years to grow into the Tottenham squad. Capable of playing across the midfield three and with caps for France's under-23 man squad, it's an astute signing for Tottenham with the Meaux-born star being able to learn from the likes of Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and more.

Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur will be keeping an eye on the situation of Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher's future, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

With a move to Atletico Madrid currently stalling, the Blues potentially may have to sell the midfielder to a Premier League rival in the coming weeks in a bid to garner a fee for their homegrown midfielder.

Gallagher's exit has been a hot topic all season, with clubs across the continent being linked with him even whilst Euro 2024 was ongoing. Atletico Madrid seemed to be the latest side to have sorted a deal for him, but with that in doubt, it's opened the door to a move across England.

Gallagher's Move to Atletico Has Broken Down

The midfielder does not know where he will be playing

Gallagher was linked with Villa, Tottenham and Newcastle United earlier in the transfer window when Chelsea were struggling with PSR issues, but with the Blues having resolved those woes at the time, Gallagher remained a Chelsea player for the time being.

Then came Atletico's interest, with the Spanish club agreeing a fee in the region of £34million for his services - but after talks stalled, the side from the Spanish capital saw Gallagher fly back to London with his career in doubt.

Sheth: Gallagher Premier League Sale "Bad Scenario"

The midfielder continues to remain in limbo

Speaking exclusively to GIVEMESPORT on Thursday, Sheth said that Gallagher's sale would be a poor scenario for the Blues - with the club perhaps being forced to consider Premier League proposals.

When asked if the likes of Tottenham and Aston Villa would be keeping an eye on developments, he said:

"I'm sure they will be keeping an eye on this situation, and that would be the second-worst case scenario for Chelsea.

"The way that they orchestrated this deal was that they offered him a two-year contract, which effectively is telling him that we want to sell you. And then, not only that, but they effectively chose the club that he was going to, which was Atletico Madrid - a club outside of the Premier League.

"They didn't want him to go to a Premier League rival. Now that he is not going there, are Chelsea going to have to entertain potential deals from clubs in the Premier League?"

Gallagher's Dependency is a Huge Attribute

The midfielder has been consistent for Chelsea

Gallagher would be an excellent pickup for other top-flight teams if they were to make a bid for his services. 72 Premier League appearances for Chelsea over the past two seasons has seen him become one of their most important players, whilst a combined 64 appearances in loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace combined has seen him become a regular top-flight star for teams across the league.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Gallagher has made 18 appearances for England but has yet to score for the Three Lions

Villa don't exactly need a hard-working central midfielder to come into their ranks with Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana and John McGinn currently on the books in the West Midlands; but Tottenham could be in more need of the stand-in Blues captain in their ranks to make a serious upgrade on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg after his move to Marseille was confirmed earlier in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur are still considering signing another forward after Dominic Solanke’s record arrival from Bournemouth, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has exclusively told GIVEMESPORT.

Spurs show no signs of stopping in the transfer market after splashing out a club-record £65m fee for the former Cherries attacker, who signed a six-year deal last week.

According to Romano, Tottenham are expected to remain busy in the coming weeks, after finally finding a replacement for Harry Kane following his departure to Bayern Munich last year.

Solanke, who scored 19 goals in 38 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth last season, is set for a starring role in Ange Postecoglou’s squad in the Australian tactician’s second season in North London.

The 26-year-old’s arrival casts doubts over Richarlison’s long-term prospects in North London – the Brazilian’s game time may now be limited after he primarily played up front in the previous campaign.

Speaking to ESPN Brasil earlier this month, the versatile centre-forward insisted he intends to stay at Tottenham next season, despite receiving an offer to play in Saudi Arabia.

Postecoglou Eyes Another Attacker

After the club-record signing of Solanke

With options out wide including Heung-min Son, Brennan Johnson, and Dejan Kulusevski, Tottenham have not ruled out signing another attacker before the transfer window shuts on August 30.

Speaking to GMS, Romano suggested he expects Spurs to be busy in the coming weeks as they consider further reinforcements to their frontline:

“Maybe something up front. Still, they signed Solanke, but maybe one more player. It's not guaranteed, but it's something that they are considering internally. I think Tottenham will still be busy in the next weeks.”

Solanke's blockbuster arrival from Bournemouth eclipsed the previous club-record fee of £63m the North London outfit paid Lyon for Tanguy Ndombele in 2019.

Such an investment suggests Spurs expect the 26-year-old to be their main man up front next season, as they aim to work their way back into the Champions League places after finishing fifth in the previous campaign.

Tottenham were top of the table in October last year but injuries hindered their progress as they eventually found themselves battling for a top-four finish with Aston Villa.

Before Solanke’s arrival, the North London outfit had a relatively quiet window, with just three arrivals in youngsters Archie Gray, Lucas Bergval and Yang Min-hyeok, while RB Leipzig attacker Timo Werner rejoined on loan.

Djed Spence ‘Expected’ to Stay at Spurs

Despite disappointing loan spells

Tottenham defender Djed Spence is set to remain at the club after impressing Ange Postecoglou in pre-season, Football Insider has reported.

The right-back, who spent the last 18 months on loan, is now expected to be given another chance in the first-team squad and an opportunity to compete for places with Pedro Porro.

Spence had disappointing loan spells with Leeds and Genoa last season, after barely featuring for Spurs since his arrival in 2022 from Middlesbrough, making just six appearances across all competitions.

Tottenham Hotspur, in the wake of Emerson Royal’s departure to AC Milan, have ‘opened talks’ with Monaco over the availability of Vanderson, according to journalist Bruno Andrade, who reveals the French outfit are demanding £34.27 million (€40m) for his services.

So far this summer, ahead of mounting a charge for top four credentials at the least, the north Londoners have been busy in the market, bolstering in central midfield, on the right wing and – most importantly – at centre forward.

Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are now on the books as long-term options in the engine room, Min-hyeok Yang has been recruited from Gangwon FC and former Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke will now lead the line for Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Tottenham ‘Open Talks’ with Monaco for Vanderson

French club demand fee of £34.27 million (€40m)

While Tottenham have been busy plugging gaps in their squad, the recent exit of Emerson has left them shortchanged on the right-hand side of the back line, hence their reported interest in Monaco and Brazil star Vanderson, who has been previously described as 'complete'.

Pedro Porro is Postecoglou’s first-choice right-back, of course, but if the Spaniard is unavailable for any reason, the out-of-favour Djed Spence is their only viable, senior option. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Andrade suggested that Emerson’s departure to AC Milan has opened the door for Vanderson.

“With Emerson Royal confirmed at Milan, Tottenham have opened talks with Monaco for Vanderson. The French club are expecting an offer in the region of €40 million.”

The linked report also adds that people close to the player believe that a deal will go through before the end of the summer transfer window.

Recently, GIVEMESPORT sources confirmed that the capital club were ‘considering’ whether to lodge an eleventh-hour deal for the Brazilian with Postecoglou and Co having lingering doubts over whether Spence has the ability to rival Porro for his starting place.

A host of injury woes, mainly to his hip and knee, in 2023/24 saw Vanderson tot up 23 appearances across all competition for his Ligue 1 employers but since his arrival from Gremio in January 2022, he has proven his worth.

Across his 84-outing stint at the rouges et blancs, the Rondonopolis-born star has notched six goals and nine assists, all while earning two caps for the senior Brazilian national team.

What could play into Monaco’s hands at the negotiating table is that the former Gremio right-back still has four years left to run on his contract, which sees him pocket just shy of £50,000 a week, but that will not deter Spurs from making an offer.

Tottenham Admire Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman

Arsenal interested in season-long loan

Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman is also of interest to Tottenham this summer, according to KS1 TV, as Postecoglou and his entourage look to bolster the options across the front line.

In order to complement – and provide competition for – the likes of Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson, journalist Steve Kay, speaking on KS1 TV, has reported that the club from the north of London are keen to sign a new wide man before the end of the month.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Barring 2023/24, Coman won a top flight title 11 seasons in a row.

The Frenchman, 28, endured an injury-struck campaign last time out, notching just eight goal involvements in 27 appearances, but has proven his worth throughout his stint in Bavaria, amassing 63 goals and 66 assists in 294 outings.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are also keen on signing the Frenchman on a season-long loan, reports have stated, as they look to add some Champions League-level stars to their squad in what could be a make-or-break season for Mikel Arteta.

Tottenham Hotspur have decided to suspend Yves Bissouma ahead of the club's opening game of the Premier League campaign against Leicester City after footage of the midfielder inhaling a substance known as 'hippy crack' surfaced on social media earlier this week. The former Brighton & Hove Albion star filmed himself taking the mysterious substance and shared it on his own Snapchat profile. It wasn't long before the video went viral and an investigation into the situation was launched by the club.

Shortly after Spurs' final pre-season game of the summer, a loss to Bayern Munich, Bissouma was out partying and decided to film himself inhaling 'hippy crack'. Last year, the possession of laughing gas with the intent of getting high on them was made illegal and serial offenders could be punished by up to two years in prison.

While it's unclear whether more will come from the investigation, Spurs have taken it upon themselves to suspend Bissouma for the opening fixture against the Foxes this weekend and speaking about the incident, Ange Postecoglou is not happy.

Postecoglou Says Bissouma Needs to Rebuild Trust

The door is open for the midfielder to do so

News of Bissouma's suspension was broken by his own manager as Postecoglou revealed he wouldn't be available for Monday's match as a result of the incident. Speaking about the situation, the Australian revealed that his player needed to rebuild some trust with himself as well as other players after what had happened.

"He won't be available on Monday. We've suspended him from Monday's game. He needs to build that trust back with both me and the group. The door is open for him and we can help him realise the decisions he makes impact the group."

When talking about where they go from here, Postecoglou addressed how the midfielder could overcome the set-back and work to get back on the good graces of everyone in the club, saying: "Behaviour mate. It's that simple. It's about making better decisions. He was very apologetic to me, the club and everyone involved but that's just part of it."

While he revealed that Bissouma had apologised to the club and everyone involved, he also released a public statement in which he showed remorse for his actions shortly after the video went viral.

Bissouma Called His Own Actions a 'Lack of Judgement'

He's also promised to take his status as a role model seriously

The Tottenham man wasted no time addressing the situation after the video went viral, apologising to fans for what they saw and called the whole thing a severe lack of judgement on his behalf. He went on to address his status as a role model to young supporters and promised that it was something he took seriously.

"I want to apologise for these videos. This was a severe lack of judgment. I understand how serious this is and the health risks involved, and I also take my responsibility as a footballer and role model very seriously."

It's currently unclear whether he will return to the Tottenham team ahead of their second fixture of the campaign against Everton on the following Saturday.