FootballFanCast.com

After weeks of miserable football and worse results, Tottenham Hotspur picked up a much-needed victory on Thursday night.

Ange Postecoglou's side travelled to Hoffenheim knowing that a win was imperative to keep their hopes of automatically qualifying for the next round of the Europa League alive, and while it wasn't straightforward, that's just what they did.

While there were several good performances on the night, club co-vice captain James Maddison really stood out, scoring and assisting a goal.

The Englishman hasn't been at his mercurial best in recent months, but Thursday night reminded everyone just how good he can be, and fortunately for him, the manager and the fans for that matter, recent reports have linked Spurs with a player who'd be the perfect teammate for him.

Tottenham chase midfield maestro

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham have maintained their strong interest in LOSC Lille star Angel Gomes.

In positive developments for the North Londoners, the report has revealed that the England international now favours a move to them over other suitors, including West Ham United and Manchester United.

However, while the team could do with some reinforcements this month, it would appear as if the Lilywhites are working on a pre-contract agreement for the 24-year-old, as with his £11k-per-week contract expiring in the summer, he'll be available for free.

It might not be what the team needs at this moment, but signing a player of Gomes' ability for nothing is an excellent bit of business, especially as he could help Maddison play at his best more often.

Why Gomes would be a dream teammate for Maddison

So, it would probably be fair to say that the Maddison we saw against Hoffenheim on Thursday night was the one that fans want to see more of.

The tenacious midfielder who can kickstart attacks from nothing, play a killer ball in behind for his teammates, or break the lines himself to put the ball in the back of the net.

However, for fans to see more of that, the former Leicester City star needs an extremely dependable midfielder to play alongside him, someone who can help out offensively but is also talented and disciplined enough to help out in build-up and defensive situations, which is where Gomes comes in to play.

The former Manchester United prospect has spent much of his career playing in either attacking or central midfield, and as such, has the skill set to influence all phases of play and could, therefore, platform his compatriot to focus on happenings at the sharp end of the pitch.

For example, FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, places him in the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers for shots blocked.

Moreover, an article from the Coaches Voice last September praised him for his pressing and counter-pressing ability, which in a Postecoglou system could be game-changing.

However, while he can help break up play and help defend central spaces, the "special" 24-year-old, as dubbed by former manager Jocelyn Gourvennec, can also help the Lilywhites and Maddison in attacking situations, as exemplified by FBref placing him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for pass completion and successful take-on percentage, the top 3% for carries, the top 4% for passes into the final third, the top 6% for progressive passes, switches and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, signing Gomes in the summer would be an excellent idea for Spurs and Maddison, as the Lille star would platform the Coventry-born star through his defensive efforts and assist him with his brilliant passing range.

They may have picked up a much-needed away win in the Europa League last night, but there is no escaping the fact that this season has been a disaster for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou's side may still be in three cup competitions, but in the Premier League, their form has been nothing short of abysmal.

The North Londoners sit in 15th place, with more losses than wins to their name, and now that Dominic Solanke is set to miss "around six weeks" of action, they may have to rely on the unreliable and injury-prone Richarlison.

However, that might not be the case for very long, as recent reports have touted a sensational Premier League start for a move to N17, who'd undoubtedly start ahead of the Brazilian and potentially send him packing.

Tottenham target Premier League gem

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham are 'still desperate' to bring in attacking reinforcements for Postecoglou this month and have maintained their interest in Ipswich Town star, Liam Delap.

The report claims that the Lilywhites are confident they could land the young striker ahead of London rivals, Chelsea, this month.

However, in less good news for the fans, the report has also claimed that Daniel Levy does not want to get into a bidding war over the player, and given his importance to the Tractor Boys this season, other reports from this month have revealed that they would demand in excess of £40m to even entertain the idea of him leaving.

It would be a costly transfer to get over the line, but given how well Delap has played this season and his sky-high potential, it could be one worth overpaying for, especially as he'd finally send Richarlison packing.

How Delap compares to Richarlison

So, when he's back to full fitness, there is no doubt that Posetcoglou will give Solanke the chance to reassert himself as Spurs' first-choice striker, as so far this season, he's looked impressive, racking up a tally of 17 goal involvements in just 29 games this season.

Therefore, if the club were able to get their hands on Delap this month, then he would likely play second-fiddle to the Englishman, at least for a little while, meaning his main competition in the squad would be Richarlison, and we reckon that is a competition he'd win quite easily.

For example, despite joining the North Londoners for around £60m in the summer of 2022, the former Everton star has only made 76 appearances for the club and, worse yet, he's only managed to score 17 goals and provide nine assists in said appearances.

That means that across his stint with the Lilywhites, the Brazilian international has averaged a goal involvement every 2.92 games, which, for someone who cost as much as he did, just isn't good enough.

In contrast, Ipswich's goalscoring "beast," as dubbed by Kieran McKenna, has found the back of the net on eight occasions in just 22 appearances this season and provided two assists for good measure.

That means that the 21-year-old "battering ram," as dubbed by Opta Analyst, is maintaining an average of a goal involvement every 2.2 games in his first full season of top-flight football and for a team that many predicted would seriously struggle.

On top of seeming to be a more productive forward, the Winchester-born sharpshooter also has the benefit of time on his side, as at just 21 years old, there is no telling just how good he could become five or six years from now and with the right coaching.

Ultimately, Spurs need to keep overhauling their squad this month, and if they were to go out and sign Delap to replace Richarlison, then that would be an exceptional piece of business and an excellent sign for the future of the team.

Tottenham Hotspur are now seen as the main contenders to sign one Premier League forward, with a January transfer update now coming from a very reliable media source this week.

Tottenham in market to sign new attacker before January deadline day

Having fell short in their pursuit of PSG outcast Randal Kolo Muani, who ended up putting pen to paper on a straight loan to Juventus instead, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is still searching for a new forward.

Tottenham were in contact with PSG over signing Kolo Muani early last week (Fabrizio Romano), and were attempting to sway him with a move to north London until the very last minute. However, Juve proved a very tempting option for the Frenchman, with Spurs now returning to the drawing board.

The Premier League strugglers, who are yet to win a single top flight game this calendar year, languish 15th in the table and have suffered defeat on 12 separate occasions in the league alone already - so the under-fire Postecoglou quite simply needs inspiration from somewhere.

Tottenham are coping with vast injuries to first-team players right now, hamstringing Postecoglou's squad, and it is safe to say that one signing in £12.5 million goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky won't be good enough come deadline day on February 3rd.

The Lilywhites are reportedly working hard on getting the required, quality fresh faces through the door before time runs out. Spurs remain in the market for a new attacker who can provide an injection of direct threat, with Postecoglou recently offered Lyon star Rayan Cherki (GiveMeSport).

Tottenham are also believed to be eyeing a move for Nice's Evan Guessand, while other reported targets are emerging as we approach the business end of January.

Tottenham now the "biggest competitor" for Southampton starlet Tyler Dibling

One player who fits the mould of a potential Spurs signing - young, homegrown and good value - is Southampton forward Tyler Dibling.

The versatile 18-year-old has been a mainstay at St. Mary's Stadium this term, scoring four goals and assisting two others in a wide variety of attacking roles. He could suit Postecoglou down to the ground, and Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg reports that they're serious contenders for Dibling's signature.

Indeed, Tottenham are the "biggest competitors" to sign Dibling, who Plettenberg dubs a "super talent", but face stiff competition from RB Leipzig who are pushing for his services.

Tottenham Hotspur are now considering a shock move for one player from Chelsea, as Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou scours for his much-needed second signing of the January window.

Tottenham pursuing new centre-back in January

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are set to return from injury sooner rather than later, in what will be a serious boost for the under-fire Postecoglou, who's seen his defence absolutely ripped to shreds in recent months.

For the longest time, Postecoglou was forced to cope with just one fit and available centre-back in Radu Dragusin, with Ben Davies also just returning from an injury which kept him out of the side for weeks.

Teenage Archie Gray was thrown straight into the deep end as a result, partnering Dragusin at the heart of Postecoglou's defence in an unfamiliar role, and the Lilywhites boss will be very keen to avoid a scenario like this again as he seeks to resurrect Tottenham's faltering campaign.

It is safe to say Spurs' lack of depth has been seriously exposed, especially at centre-back, with reliable media sources claiming that Tottenham have been looking for another central defender to come in and bolster Postecoglou's backline.

This comes amid technical director Johan Lange's widely reported pursuit of a new forward, so the supporters will be hopeful their side can land one or two major outfield signings before deadline day on February 3.

Tottenham were reportedly targeting Abdukodir Khusanov from RC Lens, before the Uzbek's high-profile move to Premier League champions Man City, while it is also believed that Lange could test AC Milan's resolve with a bid for Fikayo Tomori (The Boot Room).

There are options for Postecoglou's side heading into the final stretch of this window, and they're also weighing up a rival defender in Chelsea ace Tosin Adarabioyo.

Tottenham now considering move for Chelsea defender Tosin

According to CaughtOffside, the £120,000-per-week former Fulham star has found his way on to Spurs' list of centre-back targets.

Once a key player at Craven Cottage, Tosin's opportunities at Stamford Bridge have been pretty limited overall since he sealed a free transfer there last summer. The Englishman was largely a bench player until early December last year, with Wesley Fofana's long-term injury increasing his chances under Enzo Maresca ten-fold.

The 27-year-old has started five out of their last seven Premier League games, even scoring against Wolves last weekend, but Chelsea have now recalled Trevoh Chalobah and remain in pursuit of Marc Guehi (Mick Brown).

He could well find himself back on the fringes of Maresca's team, depending on developments, and Tottenham are believed to be monitoring this situation closely. As per CaughtOffside, Tottenham are considering a "surprise" January move for Tosin, and it isn't hard to see why given his top flight experience and atttributes suited to Postecoglou's high line.

“He is fast, strong in the air, and has the quality to look forward behind the line for the next pass,” said Pep Guardiola on Tosin.

“He is a nice guy, his mind is open, he listens, he trains every day like it’s the last training of his life and I like to work with these kinds of players a lot.”

At this point, even the most optimistic of Tottenham Hotspur fans would likely admit that this season has been a disaster.

Ange Postecoglou has led his side to the club's worst start to a season in the last decade, and unfortunately for the Australian, it's not particularly close either.

The North Londoners currently sit 15th in the Premier League with a meagre points haul of just 24, and the only positives are that they remain in three cup competitions, the development of their youngsters and the evolution of Dejan Kulusevski.

The 24-year-old has, for the most part, been Spurs' best player this season and shown that he must be the centrepiece of Postecoglou's rebuild over the next few years, so recent reports touting a Champions League-winning player compared to the Swede for a move to the club should excite fans.

Tottenham target Premier League star

According to a recent report from Spain, Tottenham are one of several sides keen on signing Manchester City star Jack Grealish, whom they view as someone who could add quality and versatility to the attack.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that German giants Borussia Dortmund and Italian royalty Inter Milan are also interested in landing the English attacker this month, which could complicate things.

How much the 29-year-old might cost the interested parties is not established in the story, but given his diminishing importance to the Premier League champions, the estimation of £30m from Football Transfers does not seem too unrealistic.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, and the fans might not be behind it right away, but we've seen what Grealish can do when given a chance to express himself, and in a Postecoglou system, he could get back to something like that, and the fact he's been compared to Kulusevksi can only help.

How Grealish compares to Kulusevski and why Spurs should sign him

So, before we look at a couple of the reasons Spurs might want to sign Grealish this month, let's examine this comparison to Kulusevski and where it's come from.

In this case, it primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in the Premier League this season, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the sixth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Swedish dynamo.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, expected and actual assists, shot and goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

On top of the statistical similarities between the pair, they also share the ability to play in midfield or on the wing, depending on what their manager and team need from them, which is just one of the other reasons the Lilywhites might want to sign the City ace.

With that said, his lacklustre form this season, which has seen him rack up just five goal involvements in 21 games, cannot be ignored, but it also cannot be viewed in isolation and as a tool to suggest he's not got what it takes to play for a 'big six' side anymore.

To see that the Champions League winner, whom Jamie Redknapp once said has "got everything," can still make it at the top level, we only need to look at his last couple of years with boyhood club Aston Villa.

In his penultimate season with the Birmingham side, the "superstar" playmaker, as dubbed by presenter Dan Bardell, scored ten goals and provided eight assists in 41 games for the relegation-threatened side, and then did even better the following campaign, racking up seven goals and ten assists in just 27 games, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.58 games.

Ultimately, fans might be hesitant over the potential signing of Grealish this month, but if the ultra-aggressive Postecoglou can take the shackles off and get him back to his silky best, then Spurs will have a sensational footballer on their hands.

High-ranking Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are reportedly attempting to beat an elite club to the signing of a very highly-rated player, but time is running out for the under-pressure Ange Postecoglou to get his first outfield signing through the door.

Tottenham chase more January signings as Postecoglou faces crucial week

The Spurs boss is facing calls for his dismissal amid what has been a dismal campaign so far, even when taking into account their injury crisis.

Tottenham have lost 12 top flight games already, and for the first time in decades at this stage of a season. The Lilywhites are also yet to win a single Premier League game in 2025, with their 5-0 victory at Southampton in mid-December last year being their last set of three points.

Postecoglou's sit 15th in the table as a result, closer to the relegation zone than European qualification places, and this is pretty unacceptable. They take on Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday, with fellow strugglers Leicester City in line soon afterward, as Postecoglou looks set for a crucial week at N17.

Off the field, chairman Daniel Levy, technical director Johan Lange and the Spurs recruitment team are working to try and acquire Postecoglou more additions in a few key areas. £12.5 million goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky still stands as their only January incoming, and this is something the north London club's hierarchy will be eager to change quickly.

Tottenham are reportedly still in the market for a new attacker after missing out on a loan deal for PSG outcast Randal Kolo Muani, who opted to join Serie A heavyweights Juventus instead.

Spurs held discussions over Kolo Muani last week, but were beaten to the Frenchman's signature by Thiago Motta's side, as attention now turns to who they could bring in as an alternative before February 3.

As per GiveMeSport and other media sources, Lyon winger Rayan Cherki could be a option for Tottenham, and it is believed he'll be allowed to leave for a bargain price tag around the £25 million mark.

They're also looking to reinforce their backline, with Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu believed to be a serious transfer target.

Influential Tottenham figures working on Patrick Dorgu deal

GiveMeSport have another update on Levy and Lange's transfer plans, involving the exciting Denmark international.

GMS write that "influential" figures at Tottenham are attempting to beat Man United to the signing of Dorgu, and they're actively working on a deal for the 20-year-old behind-closed-doors.

Destiny Udogie is still out with a hamstring injury, exposing their lack of depth behind the former Udinese sensation, with Dorgu viewed by many as a potential like-for-like alternative to the Italian.

Dorgu's price tag stands at around £34 million, and going by Lecce sporting director Pantaleo Corvino's comments, the defender could be worth every penny.

"He is a potential champion. Correction: he is a champion," said Corvino. "Whether as a full-back or winger, he runs for three, has an eye for goal, and possesses an engine unmatched by anyone else."

The last few years have been rather dire for Tottenham Hotspur.

The North Londoners have seen the likes of Nuno Espírito Santo and Antonio Conte fail in the dugout, and now, despite being a breath of fresh air at the start of last season, it looks like Ange Postecoglou might just be going down the same road.

On top of this, they've had to watch bitter rivals Arsenal edge closer and closer to winning major silverware for the first time in a long time, and while it appears that their chances are slim this season, that's in large part down to the unfortunate injury of star player Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End star has become the poster boy of the Gunners' recent resurgence, and while the Lilywhites obviously can't bring him over to N17, they could be set to sign another Premier League youngster who has won comparisons to the England international, at least based on recent reports.

Tottenham target Premier League prospect

According to a recent update from Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Tottenham are, alongside "half of Europe," intently interested in Southampton's Tyler Dibling.

Plettenberg goes a step further, revealing that the Lilywhites and several other clubs from the Premier League are "heavily involved in the race" to secure his signature.

However, the incredible amount of competition isn't the only obstacle Spurs will have to deal with, as reports from earlier this month claimed that the Saints could hold out for up to £30m.

In all, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given his ability and sky-high potential, one well worth fighting for, especially as he's already won comparisons to Saka.

How Dibling compares to Saka and why Spurs should sign him

So, before we look at some of the other reasons why Spurs should be looking to sign Dibling this year, let's examine this comparison to Saka and where it has come from.

Well, it primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in the Premier League this season, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in this instance, has concluded that the Arsenal star is the sixth most similar midfielder to the Saints ace.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals, goals per shot and shot on target, successful take-ons, ball recoveries and more, all per 90.

However, away from the statistical similarities, there is also the fact that both players are responsible for much of their respective teams' attacking output, and while they can play in a few positions, they truly excel off the right.

Away from the similarities to the Gunners' star, one of the other primary reasons Daniel Levy and Co should look to sign the 20-year-old "game-breaker," as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is their current squad building.

It's clear that the North Londoners are building for the future with signings like Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, so adding an incredibly exciting young winger who's already racked up an impressive tally of six goal involvements this term makes sense.

Ultimately, Dibling might not reach the same world-class level Saka has in North London, but there are undeniable similarities, and he looks set for a bright future at the top level, so Spurs should do what they can to ensure he has it in N17.

Tottenham Hotspur have been blessed with genuinely world-class talents over the years.

The North Londoners might not quite have the trophies to show for it, but the likes of Mousa Dembélé, Son Heung-min, Harry Kane and even Dele Alli all made names for themselves in N17 and became stars of the Premier League.

However, before that crop of players almost led the Lilywhites to domestic and continental glory, the club had another, arguably more talented star on their books: Gareth Bale.

The Welsh icon may have found glory while playing for Real Madrid, but he was just as unplayable during his time with Spurs, and while the club might not find another player exactly like him anytime soon, recent reports have touted a youngster with unmistakable similarities for a move this month.

Tottenham target Serie A ace

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham are one of several teams interested in signing Lecce star Patrick Dogu this month.

In fact, the report has revealed that 'influential figures behind the scenes' at Spurs have been trying to work out how they can jump ahead of rivals Manchester United to secure the Dane's services.

The good news is that Lecce have already agreed to sell the full-back this month should an appropriate offer come in, but the bad news is that the Serie A side value the Danish international at £34m.

It could prove to be a challenging transfer to get over the line, but given Dorgu's impressive form and sky-high potential, it's one worth fighting for, especially as there are shades of Bale about him.

How Dorgu compares to Bale

Okay, the first thing to say is that even if Dorgu ends up being a roaring success at Spurs, which seems possible, he'll still be some way off reaching the sensational heights that Bale did in his final season before joining Real Madrid in 12/13, when he produced 36 goal involvements in 44 games.

However, just because it's unlikely that the Dane will be able to reach quite the same world-class levels as the Welshman doesn't mean that there aren't a number of evident similarities between the pair, because there are.

The first is the simple fact that, like the former Galactico, the Lecce gem will be joining the North Londoners - should a deal be struck - as an incredibly exciting and attack-minded left-back with the ability to play further up the pitch.

For example, in his 56 games for the Serie A side, the "super high potential" Dane, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has made 23 appearances at left-back, 11 at right-wing, nine in left-midfield, five at left-wing and three at right-back, while the remaining five appearances were likely short cameos and therefore not attributed to a set position.

It's not just this ability to play in attack and defence that makes the 20-year-old similar to the Cardiff-born icon; it's also how he plays.

For example, according to Mattinson, the Copenhagen-born gem is an incredibly "dynamic" full-back who "loves to carry the ball up the field" and does so with such ease, in part thanks to the fact that his "dribbling is top drawer."

However, while the offensive side of his game is what makes him most similar to the former Madrid star, he is no slouch when it comes to defensive duties, with Mattinson describing him as a "1v1 specialist" and someone who can "dominate his opponent physically."

Finally, the 6 foot 2 prospect shares the former Spurs star's incredible stamina, with Lecce sporting director Pantaleo Corvino describing him as having "an engine unmatched by anyone else."

Overall, there are several apparent similarities between Dorgu and Bale, and these similarities are also what would make the youngster an ideal player for Posetcoglou, as he'd be able to play in multiple roles, he has explosive pace and, combined with his stamina, that could make him a nightmare for opponents in the Australian's high-octane system.

Tottenham Hotspur could move to spoil Manchester United's attempts to bring in a new defender for Ruben Amorim, with the under-pressure Ange Postecoglou facing serious backline issues of his own.

Ange Postecoglou facing calls for sack amid Tottenham form

Spurs have slipped to 15th in the Premier League table, and are closer to the relegation zone than they are to the European qualification places.

This has piled pressure on Postecoglou, despite the club's current injury crisis, which has resulted in 10 first-team players currently being unavailable for selection.

Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert and striker Dominic Solanke all missed their 3-2 defeat at Everton last weekend, but there are still real question marks around Postecoglou.

Spurs have lost 12 Premier League games already, which hasn't happened at this stage of a season for decades, but it appears chairman Daniel Levy is keeping faith with his current tactician for the time being - factoring in their serious lack of available star players right now.

"At the moment, no substantial updates on Ange Postecoglou's position," said Fabrizio Romano earlier this week.

"Let's see what happens in the next few days but injuries are considered a massive issue and one of the reasons why Spurs' plan is currently not working."

One thing is certain, though - Postecoglou needs new signings through the door before deadline day on February 3.

Spurs appear badly in need of a new defender, and have been for a while considering van de Ven and Cristian Romero's absences. While the duo are expected to return sooner rather than later, it is reliably believed that the Lilywhites are in the market for a new centre-back (Gary Jacob).

Udogie is currently out with a hamstring injury as well, and this has prompted interest in signing Lecce starlet Patrick Dorgu.

Tottenham could hijack Man United talks to sign Patrick Dorgu

The Denmark international, rumoured to command a price tag of £30 million, is attracting serious interest from United, but Spurs could attempt to hinder their advances.

According to The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham hijacking Man United's talks for Dorgu is a real possibility, and links to the left-back are nothing new - so this could hold some substance.

Spurs have been targeting Dorgu as an alternative to Udogie since as far back as last year, with the Serie A gem said to be keen on a move to England as well. The versatile 20-year-old has started all but one of Lecce's 21 Serie A matches this term, making their joint-third highest rate of tackles per 90 whilst also averaging their second-highest number of shots per game on average (WhoScored).

"He has already had a lot of playing minutes in Serie A with Lecce, and he has done really, really well," said Denmark Under-21s coach Steffen Højer to bold.dk.

"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."

There has not been very much to shout about for Tottenham Hotspur this season.

Ange Postecoglou's side are still in three cup competitions, but in the Premier League, they have slipped down to 15th, and unfortunately for the fans, it's a position that accurately reflects the team's performances.

With that said, one of the few positives this season has been how summer signing Dominic Solanke has adapted to life under Postecoglou, as the former Bournemouth ace has already hit double digits for goals and sits second on the club's top scorers list.

However, the problem for the club is that they have nobody to genuinely challenge him for a place in the team, and now he's out injured, they might have to rely on the injury-prone and inconsistent Richarlison for at least "a few weeks."

Fortunately, that may not be the case, as recent reports have linked Spurs with one of the most exciting centre-forwards in the league, a striker who could solve their Solanke problem.

Tottenham target Premier League star

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham are one of several teams interested in Ipswich Town star Liam Delap.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Lilywhites are 'considering a blockbuster move' for the Englishman this month but could be set to face competition from London rivals Chelsea.

However, the report also claims that the Tractor Boys are understandably reluctant to sell their star asset this month and that to get the deal done, the North Londoners would have to make an offer in excess of £40m for a player who cost just £20m in the summer.

It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line this month, but given Delap's incredible ability and potential, one well worth fighting for, especially as he could also solve their Solanke problem.

Why Spurs should sign Delap

So there are two primary reasons that Spurs should be looking to sign Delap this month, with the first being that he'd be able to solve the club's problem of having no real backup to Solanke.

We say that the Englishman could fulfil this role perfectly as the only other player he might be up against, if he's not sold, would be Richarlison.

The former Everton forward is undoubtedly a talented player, but he's had his fair share of injury problems in North London, and even when he's played, he's not been good enough, as exemplified by his lacklustre haul of 17 goals and nine assists in 75 appearances for the club.

In contrast, the former Manchester City prospect, whom Opta Analyst dubbed a "one-man battering ram", has already racked up a tally of eight goals and two assists in just 22 appearances for Ipswich, which is a frankly sensational return for a relegation-threatened Premier League team.

This astounding rate of return for a newly promoted side leads to the second reason the Lilywhites should be looking to splash the cash on the Winchester-born gem this month: potential.

If the club are going to push ahead with the Postecoglou vision and build a team of young hungry potential superstars for the Australian to develop, then they'll need to have a genuinely special successor in place for when Solanke ends up on the wrong side of 30, and considering he's set to turn 28 this year, that isn't all that far away.

Moreover, with the absurd number of games teams have to play nowadays, there are more than enough minutes to share between both strikers, which could, in turn, help prevent injuries.

Ultimately, Spurs already have a brilliant centre-forward in Solanke, but they need a backup and long-term heir to help Postecoglou's project progress, and the perfect candidate for both of those roles is undoubtedly Delap.