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£60m Tottenham star set to miss Newcastle with Solanke after injury blow

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Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that a £60 million Tottenham Hotspur star will miss tomorrow's trip to Newcastle United alongside Dominic Solanke.

Newcastle United v Spurs - match preview

The north Londoners sealed their first win of the new Premier League campaign with a thumping 4-0 victory at home to Everton, with Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero and Son Heung-min's brace rounding off the routine three points at home.

That follows their disappointing 1-1 draw with Leicester City on the opening weekend, so Postecoglou will have been thrilled to get right back on track as the Australian looks ahead to another potential three points at St. James' Park.

However, Newcastle will be no easy customers, and go into their clash with Spurs on an identical run of form - having drawn one and won one of their opening two Premier League matches of the campaign.

Eddie Howe, speaking ahead of Tottenham's visit to the north-east, praised their attractive style under Postecoglou and insisted they recruited well during the summer transfer window.

"Tottenham have been very good," said Howe on Spurs.

"They continue to be a team I like to watch, a very attractive style, fluid. They have recruited well and signed some really talented players. They were good last year, but I think they will be even better this year. I think we always have entertaining games against them. For us, we need to make sure we get on top of the details."

Tottenham sealed a deal for the "predatory" Solanke during the summer transfer window, while also completing moves for English sensation Archie Gray, winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley, and Timo Werner on a season-long loan from RB Leipzig.

Unfortunately for Postecoglou, his star striker signing in Solanke picked up an ankle problem away to Leicester City, sidelining him for the win over Everton.

Richarlison out for weeks after Tottenham training injury

Solanke will not be available for their trip to Newcastle either, and there is more bad news, with £60 million striker Richarlison also unavailable.

According to Postecoglou, speaking in a pre-match press conference, Richarlison will be out for weeks after picking up an injury in Tottenham training.

"Dom is close, but we're going to be a bit cautious with him," said Postecoglou.

"We've got a big programme post the international break, so he'll miss out on Sunday. The only other one we got midweek is Richarlison, who unfortunately picked up an injury in training, so he'll probably miss the next few weeks."

There is some good news, though, with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur passed fit and ready to play after being knocked unconscious during a clash of heads at the King Power a fortnight ago.

"Rodrigo is all good, he's passed all the protocols we need to, and more importantly he feels really good and the medical team are really comfortable with him being available for Sunday."

Bigger talent than Cardoso: Spurs struck gold with "future £100m" player

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Tottenham Hotspur didn't complete the most frenetic of finishes to the summer transfer window, but this is a product of the smooth dealing under Ange Postecoglou.

Gone are the days of scattergun spending. Spending for spending's sake. Spending vast sums of money on footballers who quickly fall by the wayside.

Giovani Lo Celso's £3m deadline-day sale to Real Betis personifies this, for the Argentinian midfielder joined for a fee totalling £43m in 2020, having initially arrived on loan.

One out, one in? Not quite, but Tottenham have taken a rather unusual route toward signing Johnny Cardoso from Betis, enabled by yesterday's transaction.

What's going on with Johnny Cardoso

Rivals might titter over Tottenham's interminable trophy drought, but such a din is drowned out down at N17 by the exciting project that Postecoglou is crafting, brick by brick.

Daniel Levy ensured that a clause was inserted in Lo Celso's transfer, that Spurs would have priority when the United States native leaves the La Liga outfit next year or later still.

It's a prudent move. The north Londoners can observe Cardoso's continuing rise and move down the line if his development aligns with the rise of Postecoglou's Tottenham. A tough-tackling midfielder, analyst Ben Mattinson has noted that "he’s great at winning aerial duels and progressing play from deep."

The fixed fee is €30m (£25m), which is no small sum, and provides Postecoglou with ample time to assess his options, namely Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur in the nub of midfield, and move if it all makes sense.

However, Cardoso would arrive at an area of midfield stocked with plenty of talented youth. Any deal must not affect the growth of Archie Gray, who has the skills to conquer the Premier League with Tottenham.

Why Archie Gray is Spurs' biggest talent

Tottenham moved with all the speed of a blustering gale to sign Gray for £30m this summer, fighting tooth and nail to hijack Brentford's deal with Leeds United.

Gray is a teenage midfielder with the world at his feet, and his instant role in Postecoglou's plans makes a telling comment on the view in which he is held by the Australian, who knows a top talent when he sees one.

Leeds quickly established that they had a homegrown starlet of significant potential last season. The Whites' relegation from the Premier League proved to be a good thing for Gray's progress, who ended up with 40 starts in the Championship and claimed the Young Player of the Year award.

Interchangeable, he darted from deep-lying midfield to right-back with impressive measures of success, finishing the campaign with 2.1 tackles and 4.5 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore, completing 89% of his passes and winning 57% of his ground duels.

His pre-season form has carried into the early days of the 2024/25 campaign, featuring off the bench in both of Tottenham's opening matches, all composure and aptness on the Premier League pitch.

Still only 18. What a talent. Gray will only continue to grow into his skin and has even been said to be "a future £100m" midfielder by earlier-mentioned analyst Mattinson.

His technique and confidence have seen him operate dynamically through the maiden days of his career, and with a tenacious bite and breezy passing with both feet, he might just be the real deal.

Cardoso is more of a steely no. 6, crunchier with his challenges, but few would argue against Gray having the higher ceiling. Tottenham's decision to view Cardoso's development through the lens of a non-obligatory future deal errs on the side of caution, gives them time to reach a decision.

Gone are the frustrating days of old. Hello Tottenham 2.0; it's a brand new world.

Pundit slams "disappointing" £35m Tottenham regular who Levy should've sold

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A £35 million Tottenham regular in Ange Postecoglou's squad has been criticised, with one pundit believing chairman Daniel Levy should've sold him during the summer window.

Spurs enjoy productive summer window as four signings arrive

Spurs enjoyed a rather productive summer window, spending around £113 million on four key senior new additions in a season-long loan extension for Timo Werner, striker Dominic Solanke, the arrival of English sensation Archie Gray and a move for winger Wilson Odobert.

This doesn't include their deals for youngster Lucas Bergvall and South Korean wonderkid Min-hyeok Yang, who also sealed switches to north London for a further fee of around £12 million.

Levy, technical director Johan Lange and the wider Lilywhites recruitment team will be thrilled with their business overall, especially bringing in one of the country's most highly-rated talents in Gray whilst signing proven Premier League striker Solanke.

Tottenham also managed to rid themselves of deadwood at the eleventh hour, with wantaway midfielder Giovani Lo Celso sealing a last-gasp return to former club Real Betis in La Liga.

A condition of that deal is Spurs getting first refusal on a potential future move for USA international midfielder Johnny Cardoso, who the club must rate very highly if he was floated in talks over Lo Celso.

While Tottenham were reportedly offered a late chance to sign Josh Brownhill from Burnley, Postecoglou's side ultimately settled on their incomings for the window.

In terms of further outgoings after Lo Celso, it is believed left-back Sergio Reguilon was subject to late interest from abroad, but Spurs couldn't quite agree a deal to offload the Spaniard with his immediate future now up in the air.

The 27-year-old could still leave, as prominent transfer windows abroad are still open. Indeed, the Turkish, Portuguese and Dutch markets don't close until early September - and neither does the Saudi market.

Pundit slams "disappointing" Bissouma, insists Spurs should've sold

It is probably too late in the day for Yves Bissouma, though, as Spurs cannot source a replacement with the UK window shut.

Pundit John Wenham, speaking to Tottenham News before the deadline, said that Tottenham should've sold Bissouma and brought in a replacement during the summer - branding the £35 million Mali international a "disappointing" and "underwhelming" player under Postecoglou.

“If there is an option to replace Bissouma with a different midfielder, Spurs should do it,” Wenham said.

“What has he done since joining the club? He has been quite underwhelming. We haven’t seen anything like the Bissouma we saw at Brighton who would run the show against us when he played.

“On the whole, he has been a disappointing signing.”

Since arriving at N17 two years ago, Bissouma has gone on to make 57 appearances in all competitions, only recently scoring his first goal for the club last weekend against Everton.

Spurs could unleash their new Kane, Son & Dele in exciting young trio

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Tottenham Hotspur have never had it so good as they did during Mauricio Pochettino’s reign between 2014 and 2019.

During that spell, Spurs reached a League Cup final and the Champions League final, while establishing themselves as one of the best sides in the Premier League, finishing outside the top four just once between 2015 and 2019.

The Argentinian built a solid team that perhaps could count themselves unlucky to not win a major trophy during his spell in charge.

He did form one of the finest triumvirates in the club’s recent history, however, as Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dele Ali all thrived under Pochettino.

Kane went from plucky academy talent to one of the best strikers in the world, while Pochettino also managed to bring out the best in Son and Alli during his time managing the pair.

Ange Postecoglou can now only call upon the services of the South Korean star, as both Kane and Alli have since departed the North London side.

Under the inspired leadership of the former Southampton manager, Alli registered 103 goal contributions, while Kane and Son registered 196 and 110 respectively, clearly proving how good Pochettino was for the trio.

The club haven’t had three players quite link up in the final third like those three, something which Ange will be desperate to do sooner rather than later.

He could turn to some of the club's hottest young talent to solve that problem. Here's three players vying to be Tottenham's next superstars...

Kane had to bide his time during his early years at Spurs, going out on several loans before finally grabbing his chance during the 2014/15 season under Pochettino and finally utilising his talents.

Mikey Moore is certainly built similarly to the England icon, showcasing a keen eye for goal during his appearances for the U18 side since the start of the 2022/23 campaign.

For the U18 age group, Moore has been deployed as both a left-winger and centre-forward, scoring 19 goals in just 24 matches, along with chipping in with 13 assists, not a bad set of numbers for a 17-year-old.

During the U17 European Championship, the teenager scored four goals in four games for England, grabbing an assist too, as he demonstrated his qualities on the international stage.

Ange clearly has high hopes for Moore as he gave him his senior debut towards the end of last season, bringing on the teenager in games against Manchester City and Sheffield United, offering him the opportunity to play for the senior side.

With the club in four competitions this term, expect plenty more chances for the young forward as the season progresses.

The Frenchman began his career at Paris Saint-Germain, emerging through the youth system as one of their most promising wingers.

Across 30 games for the U19 and Youth League sides in 2021/22, Odobert scored 19 times and registered four assists, which gave him all the confidence needed to flourish during a loan spell with Troyes the season after.

This allowed him to seal a move to Burnley last summer. Despite the fact they were relegated, Odobert still managed to score three goals and grab three assists, which attracted attention from Spurs.

The North London side splashed out £25m to bring him to the club, which looked like it was going to be an investment for the future.

Last term, the 19-year-old created seven big chances in the Premier League, while also averaging 1.1 key passes and succeeding with 1.8 dribbles per game.

These statistics could eventually see him become the ideal heir for Son in the Spurs starting XI, as his potential, noticeably in possession of the ball, is limitless.

Despite playing only 66 minutes for his new club, Odobert has still managed to make one key pass and succeed with two dribbles in their win over Everton recently.

Pressure shouldn’t be placed on his shoulders right now, but if the French gem can settle in and hit the ground running, Spurs may have another talented winger on their hands.

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder joined Spurs this summer having initially agreed a deal to sign for the London side back in February from Djurgarden in the Swedish top flight.

His spell with the club clearly attracted plenty of attention as he scored nine times and chipped in with six assists across all competitions and these sorts of numbers could certainly see the teenager emerging as a player similar to Alli at Spurs. Out of sorts now, the England international is cut from a similar cloth, both capable of finding the net and assisting teammates on a regular basis.

Such is his immense promise and wonderful pre-season, Bergvall has been called up to the Sweden national side for the very first time, signifying that Ange has a prodigious talent at his disposal.

The youngster looked bright on his first appearance for the club, coming on for the final 12 minutes against Leicester City in the first Premier League match of the season.

Despite his limited chance to shine, Bergvall still managed to make a key pass and created a big chance, while finishing the game with a 96% pass success rate and succeeding with two of his three dribbles.

A promising debut indeed, and it gives Ange an indication of what he could expect in the near future.

This trio of young talents could begin to make an impression in the first-team squad throughout the 2024/25 campaign, giving the boss plenty of options to call upon.

While they may not live up to the reputation of Kane, Son and Alli, the three players are among some of the finest prodigies the club has had in a few years and look like a fine crop of young talents.

He's like Declan Rice: Spurs could end up signing amazing duel-monster

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Tottenham Hotspur were never expected to be active on transfer deadline day with the Lilywhites satisfied that they have everything they need after the big £65m addition of Dominic Solanke.

The striker is already injured and looks set to miss matchweek four of the Premier League but is an exciting signing, alongside the likes of promising Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert.

There may well be a concern that Spurs haven't done enough to improve their starting XI but Ange Postecoglou certainly has an exciting crop of youngsters at his disposal.

So, despite their lack of late activity in the window, they have still been active in some sort of way.

Tottenham's activity on transfer deadline day

There isn't much to report from a Spurs perspective but they have been working behind the scenes on a couple of things

Giovani Lo Celso's exit has finally happened with the midfielder heading back to Spain where he will join former loan side Real Betis.

It's hardly exciting news, but there has been an element of fun attached to the deal. That's because Spurs have sealed a deal that gives them an option to buy Betis star Jhonny Cardoso in the future.

That's according to Fabrizio Romano who provided the information in post on X this Friday evening.

Spurs' answer to Declan Rice

A midfielder, Cardoso is someone who has an exciting future in the game and if Spurs do eventually exercise that option to buy the player, they could well unearth their answer to Arsenal sensation Declan Rice.

The £105m man has been sensational since signing for the Gunners and was named in the PFA Team of the Year for last season. Thus, Spurs surely wouldn't turn their noses at signing a player in a similar mould.

Cardoso, aged just 22, has similar qualities. Those are outlined by analyst Ben Mattinson who once hailed the player, suggesting he is "great at winning aerial duels and progressing play from deep." That certainly sounds like Rice.

The numbers will help us do the talking too. According to FBRef, the Betis star ranks in the top 6% of positionally similar players in Europe for tackles per 90 and the best 1% for interceptions. He's also in the top 4% for aerials won, suggesting his reading of the game - like Rice - is first-class.

Here's how he stacks up when we compare some of those statistics to Arsenal's club-record signing.

So, while Rice evidently contributes more in the final third, there is a layer of similarities to be seen in the defensive phases of play. They are successful with a similar number of tackles and blocks and while Cardoso reigns supreme in the air, they are both highly competent in physical duels.

You've also got a similar number of take-ons there, suggesting they manoeuvre the ball past players at a similar rate.

Spurs wanted to sign a midfielder this summer and although Cardoso isn't one for now, in 2025 they could see their own Rice walking through the halls of the training ground.

Club tell Spurs they can sign £45k-p/w ace for cut-price deadline day fee

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Tottenham Hotspur have been told by one club that Spurs can strike a cut-price deadline day move for a member of their squad, with the player offered out to Premier League sides in a last-gasp attempt to sell.

Spurs could still make one more signing before 11pm

Throughout this week, the consensus among reliable media sources, including Fabrizio Romano, is that Ange Postecoglou and co may still look to add one more name to their ranks before the cut-off at 11pm.

The Lilywhites have been exceptional at keeping their latest transfer dealings quiet, as evident by the sudden nature of their Wilson Odobert signing from Burnley around a fortnight ago, and it is believed Spurs could be working on a last-minute opportunity.

“The deal they did with Burnley [for Odobert] was completely silent," said Romano to GiveMeSport earlier this week.

"So, I think they're still working on something, and I'm told they're still working on something, but there is still nothing concrete or close to being completed. But I can confirm Tottenham are still in the market for opportunities.”

This follows reports that Tottenham are prioritising a new midfielder late in the day, with Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray and Yves Bissouma standing out as Postecoglou's only available options ahead of a long and congested season.

Spurs also have finances available following a number of key player sales, including Oliver Skipp, who completed a £20 million switch to Leicester City recently.

This week, the north Londoners have been linked with both Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes and Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White, as journalist Dean Jones points out that the club want a new midfield runner.

“One thing I have been told a few times if that they want someone with power from the midfield," said Jones on the Ranks FC Ultras podcast (via TBR).

"Morgan Gibbs-White is someone they like but they like him as more of a number eight breaking out, not as a traditional number eight. They like that and they like Joao Gomes at Wolves."

However, deals for either player could be far too difficult to pull off this late in the window.

Tottenham told they can sign Josh Brownhill for cut-price fee

According to GiveMeSport, another midfield option, and a far cheaper one, could be Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill.

The Clarets are looking to sell after their relegation to the Championship, and have offered him out to numerous Premier League sides, including Spurs. GMS write that Burnley have made Tottenham aware they can sign Brownhill for a cut-price £5 million fee, as they have with both Everton and Fulham.

Archie Gray repeat: Spurs offered chance to sign "fabulous" midfielder

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It's finally here; after a summer of non-stop rumours, international football and globe-spanning preseason tours, the transfer deadline is upon us.

While some Premier League teams still have plenty of work to do before the clock strikes 11 tonight, others seemingly have a lot less to do, including Tottenham Hotspur.

The North Londoners have already signed a plethora of talented players over the last couple of months, from Wilson Odobert to Dominic Solanke.

However, while the Lilywhites are unlikely to add any more big-name stars to Ange Postecoglou's squad today, they have been linked with a potential bargain in a signing reminiscent of Archie Gray's last month.

Tottenham's deadline day activity

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham are one of several clubs who have been offered Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that Everton and Fulham are just a couple of the clubs who have been made aware of the 28-year-old's availability.

The good news for the North Londoners, who are interested in the player, per the report, is that he's available for a cut-price fee of just £5m due to his contract expiring next summer.

He wouldn't be a game-changing signing for Spurs, but given the price and his experience, bringing him to the club before the window slams shut tonight seems like a great way to improve the squad.

Why Brownhill would be a good signing for Spurs

Okay, so before we look at why Spurs should sign Brownhill, let's examine how his transfer would be reminiscent of Gray's last month.

Well, to get straight to the point, it would see the club dipping back into the Championship to sign an incredibly important player from a team who was recently in the Premier League and, while the Clarets ace isn't going to be as crucial to Postecoglou's squad in the long term, he could be a useful addition for the here and now.

For example, he made 33 Premier League appearances, mostly in central midfield, for Vincent Kompany's side last season, in which he scored four goals and provided two assists, equating to a goal involvement on average every 5.5 games, which is quite impressive for someone in his position in a team that was relegated.

Moreover, he had the captain's armband for the majority of those games and as Tottenham look to build a young and exciting team over the next few years, having an older head who's happy to play a supporting role and who also has leadership qualities can only be a good thing.

Lastly, across his entire career to date, the "fabulous player", as dubbed by former professional Lee Hendrie, has only missed 15 games through injury, meaning he could be relied upon to remain fit for the games in which he's called upon.

Ultimately, Brownhill is not a player who will change games for Spurs, and his potential transfer to the club would probably not even be picked up upon by fans of other clubs. However, he is a Premier League-proven midfielder with plenty of experience, a clean bill of health and leadership qualities, and he's supposedly available for just £5m.

Therefore, Levy and Co should look to bring him in before the window closes tonight, as he could be a dream squad player for Postecoglou.

Tottenham fancy signing £60 million star alongside Joao Gomes - journalist

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Tottenham Hotspur fancy signing a £60 million Premier League player alongside Wolves star Joao Gomes, as the north Londoners reportedly scour the market for late opportunities to bring in a new midfielder.

Spurs look at making one more signing and it could be a midfielder

Spurs have been exceptional at keeping their business quiet this summer, as highlighted by their suddenly announced transfer of Wilson Odobert from Burnley, so the consensus is that we cannot rule out late surprises at N17.

Fabrizio Romano is among the media sources to claim that Tottenham are looking at a last-minute transfer opportunity, coming after their latest piece of business, having loaned out winger Manor Solomon to Leeds United for the rest of the season.

"The deal they did with Burnley [for Odobert] was completely silent," said Romano.

"So, I think they're still working on something, and I'm told they're still working on something, but there is still nothing concrete or close to being completed. But I can confirm Tottenham are still in the market for opportunities.”

This message from Romano provides real hope for supporters that manager Ange Postecoglou could see one more name come through the door before this summer's transfer cut-off on August 31, with deadline day looming tomorrow.

Tottenham have sealed deals for Timo Werner, who extended his loan spell at the club for the rest of 2024/2025, with Archie Gray, Dominic Solanke and Odobert also putting pen to paper on moves to north London as the club's four senior additions of the window.

In terms of the next addition that Postecoglou could make, there are suggestions that Tottenham are eyeing up the possibility of a new midfielder, following their £20 million-plus sale of Oliver Skipp to Leicester City.

Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray are Postecoglou's current options in that position, but the latter two are pretty young, and an injury to Pedro Porro could force Tottenham to utilise Gray in the right-back role - which he played a lot for Leeds last season.

Tottenham fancy signing Morgan Gibbs-White alongside Joao Gomes

According to Dean Jones, speaking on the Ranks FC Ultras podcast, relayed by TBR, there are two midfield targets in particular catching the eye at Spurs.

Indeed, it is believed Tottenham fancy signing the likes of Gomes and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, if they're indeed going to reinforce that area of the park.

“One thing I have been told a few times if that they want someone with power from the midfield," said Jones (via TBR).

"Morgan Gibbs-White is someone they like but they like him as more of a number eight breaking out, not as a traditional number eight. They like that and they like Joao Gomes at Wolves."

Spurs could land Ange's own Gabriel with late bid for £25m star

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After a long summer of international football, preseason friendlies and non-stop rumours, the transfer window finally comes to a close tomorrow night.

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a relatively successful window thus far, with youngsters like Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert giving fans a reason to be hopeful about the future and statement signings like Dominic Solanke giving them a reason to be excited about the here and now.

However, while the North Londoners might have put their feet up at this point in the past, content with the business they'd already completed, reports suggest Daniel Levy and Co could be set to make at least one more surprise signing.

In fact, the latest star touted for a move to N17 has won comparisons to an incredibly talented but rather disliked player among the Spurs faithful, Gabriel Magalhães.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from transfers expert Ben Jacobs on the Last Word on Spurs Podcast, Tottenham have been interested in Bayer Leverkusen star Jonathan Tah in the past.

Jacobs explains that the German defender was discussed at the club under former managing director Fabio Paratici and that while nothing has materialised for the player yet this summer, he could still move.

The good news is that the fee required to secure the player's services likely wouldn't be an issue for the North Londoners, as Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg confirmed yesterday that Leverkusen are looking for about €30m, which converts to about £25m.

However, according to plenty of reports, the bad news is that German behemoths Bayern Munich are also incredibly keen on the player, meaning it could take a lot of convincing from Ange Postecoglou and Co to get Tah to move to N17 before 11pm tomorrow.

That said, the 28-year-old is an incredibly gifted centre-back who is well worth fighting for, and the fact that he's been compared to Gabriel can only be a good thing, despite how the fans may feel about the Brazilian.

How Tah compares to Gabriel

Okay, so before we get into some of the reasons why Tah would be an excellent signing for Tottenham before the window closes, let's examine this comparison to Gabriel and where it comes from.

So, it primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one and, in this case, has concluded that the Brazilian is the seventh most similar centre-back to the German.

Now, there are obviously some aesthetic similarities between the pair due to them both being tall defenders known for their ability to bully smaller opponents. But to understand why FBref considers them to be so similar, you have to take a look at the underlying numbers in which they rack closely, such as progressive carries, shots and shots on target, short and medium passing accuracy, shot-creating actions, and aerial duels won, all per 90.

Shot-creating actions are pieces of play that lead to a shot. These include moments such as a pass, take-on or foul being drawn.

However, while the comparison to a player who made it into the most recent PFA Team of the Season should certainly encourage Spurs that the Leverkusen ace is the right defender to go after, there is another reason he'd be an incredible signing: his experience.

Last season, the 6 foot 5 "battleship", as dubbed by former teammate Christoph Kramer, made 48 appearances for Die Werkself - 45 of which were starts - as they won their first-ever Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal without losing a single domestic game all year. In fact, the only game they lost last season was the Europa League final.

Moreover, the Hamburg-born veteran has won 29 senior caps for the German national team, so he clearly has the ability and mentality to play at the very highest level, and while there is plenty of competition at centre-back in the Spurs squad, he'd help raise the floor massively.

Therefore, while it might be challenging to pull off so late in the window, Tottenham should act on their longstanding interest in Tah and bring him to North London before the clock strikes 11pm tomorrow.

Spurs could sign their answer to Ugarte with late £50m transfer

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It's been a busy summer of transfers for Tottenham Hotspur this year, both in terms of incomings and outgoings.

Daniel Levy and Co have seen the likes of Emerson Royal, Oliver Skipp, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg leave. At the same time, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Dominic Solanke joined the Ange Postecoglou revolution.

Now, with just under two days left until the window finally comes to a close, most teams would call it a day, but according to recent reports, the Lilywhites are still keen on several Premier League stars.

The latest name touted for a move to the club would be a real coup and could become Ange's answer to Manuel Ugarte.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to transfers expert Dean Jones on the latest episode of the Ranks FC Podcast, Tottenham are interested in Wolverhampton Wanderers dynamo Joao Gomes.

Jones claims that Spurs "want someone with power from the midfield" and that they really "like Joao Gomes at Wolves."

There is no mention as to how much the Brazilian powerhouse would cost the North Londoners, but reports linking him with a move to N17 earlier this month revealed that a fee in the region of £50m would be enough to tempt the Old Gold into selling.

It would be a costly and potentially quite tricky deal to get done with such little time left in the window, but given Gomes' ability, it is one worth pursuing, especially as he's won comparisons to Ugarte before.

Why Gomes would be a great signing

Okay, so before getting into why Gomes would be such an incredible signing for the Lilywhites, let's examine this comparison to Ugarte and where it comes from.

So, this specific comparison stems from Football Transfers, which considers the Uruguayan to be the eighth most similar player to the Brazilian in their entire database, and it's not hard to see why.

For example, like the Montevideo-born star, the Wolves ace is a hard-working teammate who can occupy both defensive and central midfield, and while the former Sporting CP ace starts far more games in the former, his heatmap from last season shows that he operates slightly higher up the pitch.

Additionally, both players make an extraordinary number of tackles. For example, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, the soon-to-be Red Devil and the former Flamengo star sit in the top 1% of midfielders for tackles per 90.

So, while it's clear that the Rio de Janeiro-born star shares some impressive defensive characteristics with Ugarte; he could also offer Postecoglou more going forward.

Respected data analyst Ben Mattinson described the 23-year-old as an "all-action eight" who's a "dog of a ball winner" and, perhaps most important of all in terms of what he can bring in the final third, an "excellent box-crasher."

Ultimately, while it's undoubtedly late in the day to bring in a new midfielder, Gomes appears to be the perfect addition to this Spurs side, as someone who can help mop up attacks and then get on the end of a rapid counterattack as well. Therefore, while it would be costly, Levy and Co should do what they can to bring Postecoglou his answer to Ugarte.