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Tottenham Hotspur have produced an imperfect start to the 2024/25 campaign, to be sure, but one of promise and excitement nonetheless.

When Mohammed Kudus opened the scoring in the Premier League on Saturday noon, a collective thought hatched down N17 that Spurs' imperfect start was to shrink and then swell into something more damning, but this setback proved to ignite the fire in Ange Postecoglou's squad, who swept West Ham United aside, winning 4-1.

It's important to remember that Tottenham are a young team, still young as a collective, carrying plenty of nascent quality through a wealth of teenage prospects.

The pick of the bunch? It's got to be Mikey Moore. Still only 17, the winger has already nestled his name into the first team, earned some minutes, and made an impression.

Mikey Moore's sky-high potential

It was obvious from the very beginning: Tottenham had themselves a first-class prospect. Moore has been at the club since joining the U9s, and is now starting to step into acclaim as a prodigious first-team talent.

Moore signed his first professional deal back in August after turning 17, penning a three-year contract that will see him ascend through the opening years of his senior career and seek to wedge his way into a prominent role under Postecoglou.

Hailed as a "superstar" talent by journalist Fabrizio Romano, the talented young Lilywhite scored 16 goals and supplied nine assists across 14 matches for Tottenham's youth side last season, earning two Premier League cameos toward the back end of the term as a reward for his meteoric rise.

So far so good on the senior stage, with football.london handing the talent an 8/10 match rating after his bustling display against Ferencvaros in the Europa League, winning six duels and attempting seven dribbles, as per Sofascore.

The sky's the limit for this one, whose progress has also seen him earn three recent substitute appearances in the Premier League, notably playing around 15 minutes as Spurs ran roughshod over Manchester United's confidence, winning 3-0 at Old Trafford.

Tottenham, for sure, have much growth to complete over the coming years, but with Moore spearheading a youthful revolution, fans can get excited about the direction the outfit is headed.

While there's a superabundance of promise down N17, Tottenham might find that they've already lost their original version of the teenager.

Spurs wasted their original Mikey Moore

There must be a bittersweet feeling among the Spurs faithful as Troy Parrott finds his feet with AZ Alkmaar, having signed for the Dutch Eredivisie team in a deal worth around £7m this summer.

The 22-year-old has been unable to establish himself in north London and indeed failed to spark the right impact across a range of loan spells in England.

He did, however, impress in Holland for Excelsior Rotterdam last season, thus prompting AZ to spend a large sum on bringing him to the club. Their venture has been duly rewarded, so far.

Praised for his "phenomenal" work rate by former Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe, and this has been showcased through his early-season efforts in the Netherlands, averaging 3.1 shots and 30 touches per Eredivisie game, as per Sofascore, highlighting the energy that he brings to the table.

Parrott rose to prominence back in September when AZ near decimated Heerenveen in a 9-1 win, scoring four goals but also providing four key passes for his teammates in what highlighted his wonderful range of qualities as a forward, something that could have been perfect as a back-up, up-and-coming option in Postecogolou's Spurs squad.

In August Spurs might have signed Dominic Solanke in a club-record deal worth £65m, but the hole left by Harry Kane can only be patched up in the aggregate, and Parrott's pace and energy would have counterbalanced nicely against the former Bournemouth talisman's striking approach.

Injuries affected Parrott's development over the duration of his fledgling Spurs career but he's finally starting to prove his worth in the Netherlands and, should he sustain his fitness levels, will be sure to forge a successful career for himself.

The Republic of Ireland international, who has scored five times across 25 caps for his country, could have been the striker that Tottenham craved, the natural successor to Kane's position in the team.

He was the original version of Moore, the jewel of Tottenham's academy.

All the best to him, but it doesn't look like he's going to hit the same level that Moore could, and perhaps that is just a testament to the significant strides that have been taken at youth level by Tottenham over recent years.

Tottenham are reportedly in a race with Manchester City to land an exciting new forward for Ange Postecoglou in a move that would add more depth to their attacking ranks.

Dejan Kulusevski reborn under Ange

Named man of the match in Tottenham's 4-1 thrashing of West Ham in their most recent Premier League outing, the performance was Dejan Kulusevski's best yet in his new midfield position.

Traditionally a right-winger, he has been asked to play as a box-to-box midfielder by Postecoglou so far this season, to good effect. The 24-year-old has two goals and an assist in eight games so far, and has drawn glowing praise from his manager in the process.

“He’s got this ability to get out of tight spaces and he’s a really strong runner. He is relentless in his running capacity and he also has the quality", the Spurs boss explained.

"In that final third, I still think we can get more goals out of him, more assists but he is constantly in those threatening areas and he’s been outstanding for us all year. Today he had to show some other facets of the game, some defensive work as well which I thought he did well but I thought the whole team did well.”

Such was his performance that traditional Spurs no.10 James Maddison was withdrawn at half time to allow the Swede to rampage further forward with more cover behind him in the shape of Pape Sarr.

A unique player in the Tottenham squad, he has emerged as a key member of the first XI for Postecoglou, and now they are looking to add another star who has been similar to the Swede so far this season.

Spurs eyeing up cheap deal

Now, it has been reported that Tottenham are among the clubs eyeing up a move to sign breakout LaLiga star Raul Moro, who has impressed for Real Valladolid. Still just 21-years-old, the versatile forward has grabbed two goals and an assist this season, the same number as Kulusevski.

As per reports in Spain, his performances have caught the eye of Manchester City and Tottenham, with Guardiola's side "one of the most enthusiastic clubs closely monitoring Raúl" while Tottenham are also keeping a close eye on his situation.

Named as a player similar to Kulusevski on FBRef's statistical tool, their seasons to date have been eerily similar, with both managing similar numbers of shots on target, ball progression and even defensive numbers.

According to the report, Moro could be available for a figure in excess of €10m (roughly £8.5m) should either club want to make a move for the 21-year-old gem in the coming transfer windows, though increasingly strong performances could see that figure rise rapidly.

While he could provide cover and competition for Kulusevski, he would also offer Postecoglou another option in attack as he looks to deliver silverware to north London in his second season at the club, as he has managed at each of his previous clubs.

Over the last couple of years, Tottenham Hotspur have shifted their recruitment focus to try and invest in youth prospects to hopefully develop them into elite talents, aiding their attempts to finish in the top four of the Premier League.

Lucas Bergvall arrived in North London from Swedish side Djurgarden over the summer transfer window, with the 18-year-old already involved within Ange Postecoglou’s first-team squad.

The midfielder has already made eight appearances in all competitions since his move to England, showcasing the Aussie’s trust in the youngster despite his tender age.

Bergvall isn’t the only youngster currently within the first-team, with Archie Gray another of the summer recruits who’s been trusted by Postecoglou rather than being loaned out to gain experience.

However, such transfers are certainly a step in the right direction for the Lilywhites, allowing them to be competitive at the top level under the 59-year-old.

One transfer window in particular got the ball rolling, allowing for the shift in recruitment focus and offloading some players simply not at the level required.

Tottenham’s transfer window in January 2022

The £63m signing of Tanguy Ndombele brought about huge excitement amongst the fanbase back in the summer of 2019, but unfortunately the move never worked out as both parties anticipated.

Fitness and attitude problems saw the downfall of the Frenchman, with the midfielder rejoining former side Lyon on loan in January 2022 - spelling the end of his time with then-boss Antonio Conte not seeing him as part of his plans.

Another player who had the world at their feet at one point was attacking midfielder Dele Alli, whose career at the club petered out after a brilliant start.

The former England international registered a total of 31 goals and assists during his best campaign in the 2016/17 season, but he would eventually leave on a free transfer to join Everton back in January 2022, with Alli now a free agent just over two years on.

Their subsequent departures left a gap in the midfield, offering little depth to boss Conte, giving him the opportunity to strengthen his side in the transfer market.

The Italian would do just that, signing a player for a bargain fee, with the addition still a key first-team member to this day.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s market value in 2024

Just over two years on from his £15.8m transfer from Juventus, midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur remains a key part of Spurs’ squad, making nine appearances in all competitions under Postecoglou.

The Uruguayan has made 78 appearances for the North London outfit, scoring on seven occasions - including a well-taken finish against Leicester City back in September 2022.

The 27-year-old has settled perfectly into life in the Premier League, making a huge impact this campaign, with the “technically immense” talent, as described by presenter Adam Smith, achieving a 92% pass accuracy alongside his tally of 67% tackles won.

As a result of his impressive displays over the last couple of months, his market value has soared, with the Spurs number 30 now valued at £29m as per Transfermarkt. To put that number into context, in-form star Dejan Kulusveski is currently valued at £45m and Brennan Johnson at £40m.

His subsequent value is nearly a two-times increase on the fee the club forked out for his signature back in January 2022, with former boss Conte undoubtedly securing the Lilywhites a bargain.

If the club are to achieve their aim of securing a Champions League spot once again this season, Bentancur will be pivotal in Postecoglou’s attempts, potentially building on his impressive start to the season.

His transfer is evidence that the club’s latest transfer strategy is an effective one, with the hierarchy needing to continue the trend in the coming transfer windows.

Tottenham Hotspur returned to winning ways with a bang yesterday afternoon, thumping West Ham United 4-1 in the first Premier League outing after the international break.

Ange Postecoglou’s side fell a goal behind in the first-half before Dejan Kulusevski’s impressive finish drew the sides level before the break.

However, it was Spurs’ relentless frontline that managed to do the business come the final whistle, scoring three times in just eight minutes to secure all three points for the North London outfit.

The result saw the perfect response by Postecoglou’s men after the embarrassing 3-2 defeat to Brighton before the international break - hopefully putting their Champions League ambitions back on track after the convincing victory.

Despite the rout, one first-team member failed to have a huge impact on the game in the final third, unable to get himself onto the scoresheet once more this season.

Dominic Solanke’s stats for Spurs in 2024/25

After joining the club in a club-record £65m deal from fellow Premier League side Bournemouth, there were real expectations placed on the shoulders of striker Dominic Solanke to be the Harry Kane replacement they had been searching for.

Given his tally of 19 league goals in 38 matches last season, it’s understandable that the fanbase would be excited about his addition, but it appears he’s taking longer than expected to settle into life in North London.

He’s scored three times in his first nine outings for the Lilywhites, an average of one goal every three matches, a fair record, but slightly disappointing given his huge transfer fee.

The 27-year-old was unable to get himself onto the scoresheet yesterday, subsequently being replaced by Richarlison with just 10 minutes to go in the encounter.

However, he could find himself handed more opportunities come January, with the club touted with a move for yet another exciting prospect.

Tottenham monitoring move to sign exciting youngster

According to Football Insider, Tottenham are closely monitoring Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens ahead of a potential move in January.

The 20-year-old has made an excellent start to the new campaign, registering two goals and two assists in his first seven appearances in the Bundesliga.

The report goes on to state that the club have been scouting the youngster in recent weeks, but it’s unknown how much any potential deal would set Postecoglou’s side back in the upcoming transfer window.

Englishman Bynoe-Gittens, who’s previously been dubbed as a “wonderkid” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would be a superb addition for Spurs and one that could allow compatriot Solanke to reach the next level in North London.

He’s averaged 6.5 progressive carries and 1.9 progressive passes per 90 - demonstrating his desire to play the ball into forward areas, handing Solanke with added opportunities in the final third should he move to the club.

The forward has also registered eight crosses in the Bundesliga this season, including one for Serhou Guirassy in the club’s recent outing - which led to the striker firing home - something which could be replicated in North London between Bynoe-Gittens and Spurs’ club-record signing.

His talent is endless and the youngster has the potential to transform into one of the best talents in Europe if he can add consistency in his end product, to go along with his superb progressive play.

The 20-year-old would fit perfectly into Postecoglou’s current recruitment plan of investing in youth talent, handing the club an added dimension in their hunt for Champions League football once again.

Potentially repeating their deal to sign Dominic Solanke a few months ago, Daniel Levy and Tottenham Hotspur are now reportedly ready to pay £50m to sign one Premier League winger.

Tottenham transfer news

The Lilywhites returned to winning ways in style against West Ham United, putting their disappointing capitulation against Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break behind them. Despite falling a goal behind courtesy of Mohammed Kudus' second goal in as many games, Ange Postecoglou's side battled back well to eventually ease past their London rivals and seal a comfortable 4-1 victory.

As if Spurs need any further attacking reinforcements after such a display of goalscoring prowess, those in North London have been linked with summer moves to add even more excitement to their frontline.

The likes of Jonathan David and Benfica winger Kerem Akturkoglu. The former could of course partner Solanke to form quite the duo under Postecoglou, particularly if the Lilywhites also add another creative outlet when 2025 arrives.

According to reports in Spain, Levy and Tottenham are now willing to pay as much as £50m to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth with Spurs reportedly preparing an opening offer to sign the winger.

Of course, Bournemouth and Spurs should already be familiar with each other in the transfer market given that Solanke swapped the South Coast for North London just a few months ago. Now, the two clubs could renew their relationship in what could see yet another Bournemouth player become part of Postecoglou's ongoing project.

Semenyo certainly seems to be one to watch. The winger first stole the headlines amid links to the likes of Spurs earlier this month and those rumours have only increased ever since to the point that the Lilywhites are seemingly set to step things up.

"Underrated" Semenyo could unleash Solanke

Although Solanke has shown enough glimpses of his best form to say that the goals will begin to flow in abundance sooner rather than later, the arrival of a winger he knows so well in the form of Semenyo would undoubtedly speed that process up.

Forming a solid partnership at Bournemouth last season, Solanke ended the campaign with 21 goals in all competitions, whilst Semenyo ended on eight as both earned praise around the Premier League. Analyst Ben Mattinson, one of those full of praise, spoke about the Cherries' dangermen in the last campaign and went on to describe Semenyo as "underrated".

Kicking on even further in the current campaign, Semenyo is now in line to follow in his former teammates' footsteps and potentially complete a move to Spurs when 2025 arrives.

Tottenham Hotspur proved their breadth of quality in attack rivals any frontline across the country, dispatching West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday.

Admittedly, the Hammers were sorely out of shape, but it was still a triumph that has set the north Londoners back on track after capitulating against Brighton & Hove Albion before the October international break.

There's one man above all others who's supercharging Postecoglou's attack: Dejan Kulusevski.

Dejan Kulusevski's performance vs West Ham

Kulusevski has long been regarded as one of Tottenham's most exciting players but he's starting to hit his stride this season, with Postecoglou regularly unleashing the typical winger in a more central and dynamic midfield role.

It's paying off handsomely, with Spurs still lacking fluency and defensive solidity but starting to look more refined and cohesive as a unit.

Against West Ham, this was showcased spectacularly, and Kulusevski was at the heart of his side's football, awarded an 9/10 match rating by football.london's Rob Guest, who hailed the Swede's parity-restoring goal in the first half, his link-up play with skipper Heung-min Son, with his sky-high confidence threading it all together.

The 24-year-old is embracing his more talismanic role in Postecoglou's system and, with James Maddison hooked at half-time as more purchase was sought, looks like the main man. He might even be shaping into the Lilywhites' own version of Martin Odegaard.

Ange's own version of Odegaard

Kulusevski's energy and application make him an indispensable member of the Tottenham team. His comparative raise in prolificness is merely a welcome bonus.

Pundit Graeme Souness once hailed Kulusevski as "De Bruyne-esque" but perhaps such praise could be more aptly attributed to that of the Arsenal captain.

FBref's number-crunching model has revealed that Odegaard is one of Kulusevski's most statistically similar midfielders, for both left-footers are natural goalscorers with a ball-carrying expertise and combative streak.

Odegaard has been named Arsenal's Player of the Season for successive years and is one of the finest and most influential players in the Premier League, and it would be quite a thing for Postecoglou to fashion Kulusevski into a star of a similar ilk.

With two goals across his past three matches in the top flight, the Tottenham sensation will be hoping to sustain this searing-hot run of form and fire his outfit back into the Champions League and toward the deep end of a cup competition.

As you can see from the graphic above, Kulusevski is growing into one of Europe's finest midfielders, and he could be a real difference-maker for his side across the coming months, perhaps rivalling Odegaard down the line for London's finest occupant of the playmaking tag.

Still looking to transform Ange Postecoglou's side into a team capable of finally ending their long wait for silverware, Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly plotting a stunning double deal worth £58m in 2025.

Tottenham transfer news

The Lilywhites signed well in the summer transfer window, with Dominic Solanke and Archie Gray instantly standing out as arrivals full of quality. However, there's still plenty of work to be done on Postecoglou's side in what is only the second season of a long project in north London. Whilst those improvements take place, the Australian will simply be hoping to repay that faith in the form of results on the pitch.

Following a mixed run of form prior to the international break, it looked as though the Lilywhites were in for another afternoon to forget against West Ham United when Mohammed Kudus opened the scoring, only for Dejan Kulusevski and Yves Bissouma to turn the game on its head, before Jean-Clair Todibo's own goal and Son's clinical finish sealed all three points.

Returning to winning ways in style, the Lilywhites have seemingly turned their focus back towards the transfer market. According to CaughtOffside, Spurs are now plotting a double deal to sign Orkun Kokcu and Kerem Akturkoglu, and have been quoted a fee of €70m (£58m) to do business.

Fending off interest from Premier League rivals Manchester United in the process, Spurs reportedly want to reinforce their frontline and midfield by landing the two Benfica stars for Postecoglou.

Kokcu is particularly a man in demand, with Liverpool also recently linked with a move to sign the central midfielder in what should prove to be a hectic race for his signature. Meanwhile, Akturkoglu is a talent in his own right and would undoubtedly boost the Lilywhites' frontline if his exploits in Europe are anything to go by.

"Leader" Kokcu would complete Tottenham midfield

With the likes of Archie Gray emerging and Bissouma gradually winning back the trust of Postecoglou, Spurs now have the chance to complete their midfield by signing Kokcu in 2025. The Turkey international has enjoyed another excellent start to the campaign by scoring four goals and assisting a further three, and has rightly taken his place on Premier League clubs' radars as a result.

Dubbed a "leader" by Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig while playing for Feyenoord in 2022, Kokcu is still just 23 and a player who looks only likely to get even better after becoming one of Benfica's star men in the current campaign.

With the bonus of Akturkoglu on top, Spurs could be landing the deal of the summer if they secured the signature of Kokcu ahead of Premier League rivals Manchester United and Liverpool, especially with the reasonable combined price reportedly put forward by Benfica.

Tottenham Hotspur face West Ham United in North London this afternoon looking to return to winning ways after their 3-2 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion before the recent international break.

It was an evening to forget for Ange Postecoglou’s side, leading by two goals at the break, but they surrendered it all in just 20 minutes after goals from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck.

As for the Hammers, Julen Lopetegui secured just his second Premier League win in charge of the club last time out, looking to build on their 4-1 demolition of newly promoted Ipswich Town.

Spurs will be out for revenge at home against West Ham, after losing last season’s meeting 2-1 following two second-half goals from Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse.

Postecoglou will be hoping for a reaction this afternoon, potentially having to drop one player if his side are to return to winning ways at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Why Bentancur could be dropped by Postecoglou

In the previous outing against Brighton, midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was one of multiple outfield players who failed to cover themselves in glory throughout the defeat.

The 27-year-old featured for 79 minutes on the South Coast before being replaced, with his substitution deserved based on his figures from the encounter.

Uruguayan international Bentancur only managed 59 touches, and completed 39 passes at a completion rate of 85% - but he still conceded possession eight times during the defeat, often being careless with the ball at his feet.

He also failed to complete any of the dribbles he attempted that day, winning just 50% of the duels that he entered - often coming out second best in midfield.

Given the derby meeting this afternoon, Postecoglou will want each one of his players on top form to secure three points but also bragging rights for the supporters.

As a result, he could deploy one player in the starting lineup, with the midfielder potentially keeping the opposition’s danger man quiet in the process.

The man who can keep Lucas Paqueta quiet for Spurs

Attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta is a player who possesses a lot of quality, as demonstrated by his tally of two goals this season, whilst completing 71% of his attempted dribbles.

The Brazilian loves to create carnage in attacking areas, often being the main source of creativity for Lopetegui’s side this season, but Ange has a player who can keep the 27-year-old quiet in North London.

Pape Matar Sarr has been a player who’s found starts hard to come by this season, only being included from the off in two league matches so far this campaign.

The “frightening” talent, as described by talent scout Antonio Mango, could be deployed against the Hammers this afternoon, with his attributes undoubtedly restricting Paqueta’s chances in attacking areas.

Sarr starred on international duty this week, winning 17 duels in Senegal’s victory over Malawi, whilst also completing three tackles - with his physical nature undoubtedly intimidating to any opposition player - allowing him to get the better of Paqueta this weekend.

In the Premier League for Spurs this season, the 22-year-old has averaged 2.5 tackles won per game alongside 8.5 duels - making him the perfect player to try and mark someone out of the game.

It’s a huge game for Postecoglou and his side as they look to bounce back after the Brighton game, with his team selection vital if they are to return to winning ways.

It’s clear that Sarr has the talents needed to provide that bite in the centre of the park, whilst also having the ability to constantly pester the West Ham number 10 and mark him out of the game.

Over the last few years, Tottenham Hotspur have been the home to countless attacking talents, with many capturing the hearts of the fanbase after their respective moves to North London.

James Maddison is just one talent out of multiple in Ange Postecoglou’s current first-team setup, becoming a key player in the Aussie’s side after his £40m move from Leicester City during the summer of 2023.

In the Englishman’s 39 appearances for the club, he’s registered a total of 18 combined goals or assists, averaging a contribution every other game during his opening 12 months or so in the capital.

Winger Dejan Kulusevski has also impressed during his near three-year stint in North London, registering double figures for goal contributions in every campaign he’s featured in at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Swedish international has even featured in central midfield for Postecoglou in recent weeks, potentially following in the footsteps of one player who was adored by many during his time at the club.

Christian Eriksen’s stats for Tottenham Hotspur

Danish attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen joined Spurs in a £11.5m deal from Ajax back in the summer of 2013 - going on to make a huge impact during his six-and-a-half years at the club.

He was a consistent performer under various managers, including Mauricio Pochettino, making over 35 appearances in each season up until his departure back in January 2020.

Eriksen accumulated a total of 305 appearances for the Lilywhites, often catching the eye with his passing range and eye for picking out a teammate or the back of the net.

The now 32-year-old registered 69 goals and 88 assists during his time in the capital, winning the club’s Player of the Year award on two occasions, whilst helping the club reach the Champions League final back in 2019.

However, he left North London under José Mourinho back in January 2020, wanting a new challenge with Inter Milan - joining the Italian giants in a £17m deal - a deal which saw the club make a profit on their investment.

His departure undoubtedly left a huge hole in attacking areas, leaving the side with a lack of creativity in certain games with Eriksen’s intricate passing often helping the side in those cagey affairs.

Despite this, there was belief around the club that they already had a readymade replacement for the Dane within the club’s academy, with the youngster having the talent to step up into the first team under Antonio Conte in 2022.

The player who was a readymade Eriksen replacement

Midfielder Harvey White is a product of the club’s academy, often being in and around the first team for many years, but mainly featuring as a regular for the youth sides.

He made his senior debut for his boyhood side back in November 2020, replacing Dele Alli in the 4-0 Europa League victory over Ludogorets - featuring at the tender age of just 18.

However, he would only make one more appearance that season, before having to wait another two years before getting another chance in the first team, this time under Antonio Conte.

White only featured once under the Italian, for a total of just four minutes as a substitute in the Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace on the 4th of January 2023 - a game that would be his last for the club.

He returned to the youth sides, with his tally of five goals and four assists the season prior, drawing comparisons to former star Eriksen from journalist Emma de Duve - but ultimately, he never was given the opportunity to showcase his talent in North London.

The now 23-year-old has found a new permanent home with League One side Stevenage, joining Alex Revell’s side for an undisclosed fee during the summer transfer window back in 2023.

The youngster has since made 31 appearances for Boro, taking his game to the next level this campaign, registering one goal and four assists in his first 13 games of the new season.

White still has an abundance of time to fulfil his potential, with regular game time at his current side giving him the best possible opportunity of doing so.

It’s a shame to see a player with such high potential fail to reach the heights he was once dubbed to reach - but hopefully he can prove to Spurs that they made the wrong decision in allowing him to leave.

A "special" player is likely to leave his club in 2025, despite only just signing a new contract, and it is believed he could join Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs' transfer plans for next year as Lange works behind-the-scenes

It has been a testing start to the season for manager Ange Postecoglou, with Spurs blowing hot and cold over their opening fixtures of the campaign.

Recently, Postecoglou's side went on an impressive five-game winning streak in all competitions, with Wales winger Brennan Johnson front and centre of it, as he enjoys quite a purple patch right now.

However, that run unceremoniously ended with a dramatic 3-2 defeat away to Brighton. Spurs were two goals up at half-time, but they ultimately capitulated at the Amex, with Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck cementing their fate.

"You never know if it [the international break] is good or bad. Maybe for the players it was good, but I don't like sitting on a loss," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's 3-2 defeat to Brighton.

"There can be a tendency to over-analyse things. It wasn't a good one. The first half was unbelievable, but I didn't like the second half and what we looked like. It wasn't the loss, it was the manner I wasn't comfortable with. I've been sitting on it for 10 days, I'm ready to explode once they get back in the building and that will be my therapy."

As Postecoglou unleashes on his current squad, just before they take on West Ham in a fierce London derby clash this weekend, technical director Johan Lange and the Lilywhites recruitment team are working to bolster the Australian's options in January.

Indeed, it is believed Tottenham are targeting Espanyol winger Javi Puado, with his deal set to expire next summer, so the La Liga side could be forced to cash-in on the cheap this winter. Spurs are chasing Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Georgiy Sudakov as well, as Lange and co weigh up alternative attacking midfield options to James Maddison.

Patrick Dorgu could join Tottenham despite new contract

Another rumoured target for Postecoglou's side is Lecce youngster Patrick Dorgu.

The Dane has been impressing in Serie A, with Dorgu attracting interest from Spurs among other elite Premier League sides. The teenage full-back recently penned a new deal with Lecce, committing his future to the club until 2029 and warding off potential suitors.

However, this apparently may not be the case, as Fiorentina News write that Dorgu is still likely to leave Lecce in 2025, with Spurs at the front of the queue for his services alongside London rivals Chelsea.

The fresh terms will hand Lecce an opportunity to garner more funds from Dorgu's departure, according to Fiorentina News, which means the north Londoners will have to pay more than his previously reported £25 million fee.

"You can just say that with some players it can go incredibly fast," said Denmark Under-21s coach Steffen Højer to bold.dk.

"He has already had a lot of playing minutes in Serie A with Lecce, and he has done really, really well. What is special about him is that he is a quiet and calm guy, but things are just incredibly natural for him on a football pitch.

"When he is put on a field, and it doesn't matter which team, he just fits in, and he just makes incredibly many good choices for such a young player He has clear qualities, and then there is a lot of work that needs to be done in relation to both being part of the U21s, but also eventually making the national team."