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After waiting all summer, the Premier League is finally back, and later on tonight, Tottenham Hotspur will kickstart their campaign to break into the Champions League places.

It's set to be a tricky opening fixture for Ange Postecoglou's side, as an away game against one of the newly promoted sides, Leicester City in this case, can always be a bit of a banana skin.

However, the Australian has had a reasonably productive preseason on the pitch and a brilliant one off it, so he should be confident going into the match.

The North Londoners have signed several exciting youngsters this summer, such as Archie Gray, Yang Min-Hyeok and Wilson Odobert. Still, the best addition of all is undoubtedly Dominic Solanke, although, with the window open for another couple of weeks, Daniel Levy and Co could go out there and bring in a dream teammate for the Englishman.

Solanke's move to Tottenham Hotspur

The North Londoners completed the £65m signing of Solanke over a week ago now, and while he wasn't able to make an appearance for the team during preseason, there is an expectation that he'll make his debut against the Foxes tonight.

He might not have been the first name on the wishlist of many fans at the start of the summer, but it is apparent that Postecoglou wanted him, and based on his form for Bournemouth last season, it's not hard to see why.

In 42 appearances for the Cherries, the 26-year-old scored a mammoth 21 goals and provided four assists for good measure, meaning he averaged a goal involvement once every 1.68 games.

This impressive output would have made him the top goalscorer in the Lilywhites squad last season and the second most productive player overall, producing just two fewer goal involvements than Son Heung-min, and there is no shame in that.

In all, while he's cost Tottenham a significant amount of money, he could help fire the team up the league this season, especially if Levy and Co can finally secure one of the club's long-term targets in the coming weeks.

Why Eberechi Eze would be a dream teammate for Solanke

Yes, the target in question is Crystal Palace talisman Eberechi Eze, who has been touted for a move to several clubs, including Tottenham, all summer.

Links between the Lilywhites and the Palace ace were already around last year, but they really took off before and during the Euros this summer, with reports suggesting that an offer of £60m would be enough to activate a release clause in the player's contract.

However, recent reports have claimed that said release clause is no longer valid, meaning we don't know just how much the Eagles would demand for their star player.

That said, with the North Londoners being named the wealthiest club in London earlier this year, they should go all out and flex their financial muscle before the window slams shut by bringing the former Queens Park Rangers star to N17, as he'd be incredible alongside Solanke.

There are a couple of reasons why he'd be so great with the talented centre-forward, and the first is rather simple: his output.

For example, in just 31 appearances last season, the £100k-per-week "wizard", as Declan Rice dubbed him, scored 11 goals and provided six assists, equating to a goal involvement every 1.82 games.

Just imagine how dangerous the former Cherries poacher would be with such an effective teammate beside him, someone capable of pulling defenders away with their goal threat or talented enough to play a pinpoint pass into his path to bury himself.

This brings us to the second reason that the pair could form a dangerous partnership: the Eagles ace's positional versatility.

Across his career to date, the 26-year-old has started games all over the pitch, but more often than not, he's playing in midfield or out on the left, meaning he could fit into the Spurs lineup in a couple of ways and therefore have more of a chance to form a true understanding with the former Liverpool striker.

Moreover, his ability to shift from the middle of the park to wide and attacking positions could also help free up more space for Solanke to exploit, thus providing him with far more chances to score.

Ultimately, while it seems like a deal that might just be beyond Tottenham now, if Levy and Co really wanted to give Postecoglou the best chance of succeeding this season, then going all out to sign Eze in the coming weeks would be a brilliant way to do so.

Tottenham Hotspur kick off their Premier League campaign with a trip away from London to take on Leicester City at the King Power stadium tonight.

Spurs are set to do business with their opponents, with Oliver Skipp due to join in a £25m deal, but the midfielder will not be available to play even if they announce him before the match.

Ange Postecoglou could hand debuts to Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert, and Dominic Solanke, who have all been added to the squad this summer, albeit Bergvall was signed back in February.

There could be more to come before the end of the summer transfer window, though, as Spurs have been linked with an interest in adding another defender to the group.

Spurs interest in Bundesliga ace

Studio Futbol reported earlier this month that the Lilywhites are one of a number of teams interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Piero Hincapie.

The outlet claimed that Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and Liverpool are also keen on the Ecuador international, who was once described as a "charismatic" defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

It was revealed that Xabi Alonso, who led Leverkusen to an incredible unbeaten Bundesliga season last term, has asked the colossus to remain in Germany, as he is a key figure in the Spaniard's side.

TEAMtalk previously claimed that it would take a fee of around £50m to tempt the Bundesliga champions into parting ways with the 22-year-old star, and it remains to be seen whether or not Tottenham are prepared to pay that much for him.

If Postecoglou can land the talented defender before the end of the summer transfer window, though, then the Leverkusen star could be his own version of Arsenal enforcer Ben White.

Why Piero Hincapie is like Ben White

Albeit on opposite sides of the pitch, both players are central defenders by trade who have been converted into full-backs who can invert centrally to form a back three.

Hincapie - who has been described as a “beast” by football scout Antonio Mango - is a centre-back who can also play at left-back, providing his manager with plenty of tactical opportunities, whilst White emerged as a centre-back earlier in his career before being converted into a right-back by Mikel Arteta.

As you can see in the table above, both players are comfortable in possession and win the majority of their duels at the back, at Bundesliga and Premier League level respectively.

Hincapie has averaged 5.11 progressive passes and 2.10 progressive carries per 90 over the last 365 days, whilst White has averaged 5.82 progressive passes and 1.15 progressive carries per 90 in the same period.

The Leverkusen star ranked within the top 1% of his positional peers for progressive carries and the top 15% for progressive passes, which shows that he is sublime in possession and constantly looks to bring the ball forward for his team.

Therefore, Hincapie could be Postecoglou's own version of White by offering a versatile and progressive option to play across the back four when needed this season, as competition for Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie.

Just 12 days away from transfer deadline day, Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly preparing an offer to sign a defensive reinforcement who would be their sixth signing of the summer.

Tottenham transfer news

It looked for some time as though Spurs' transfer window was going to be one focused on the future rather than welcoming the marquee signing that they arguably so desperately needed. Dominic Solanke's arrival has since ticked that box, however, with the Lilywhites finally getting their replacement for Harry Kane a year on from his departure to Bayern Munich.

The north London club have since followed that up with another attacking arrival too, signing Wilson Odobert from Burnley, who stood out despite suffering relegation with Burnley last season.

The winger expressed his delight over the move, telling the club's official media channels via Football London: "First and foremost Tottenham is a big club and it's hugely ambitious too. I think the club and myself share the same ambitions, we're pretty much on the same wavelength.

"I've got a decent amount of pace. I like to take people on in one-on-one situations and dribble, I like to get on the ball and have plenty of touches. I like to bring other in, to entertain and at the same time enjoy my football too. I really feel I'll be part of a great project here which enjoys fantastic support and a superb stadium."

Now, having strengthened in attack, the Lilywhites have reportedly turned their attention towards their backline. According to journalist Bruno Andrade, Spurs are preparing an offer to sign Vanderson worth €32m (£27m) plus add-ons, with talks ongoing between themselves and AS Monaco.

The right-back would likely arrive to replace Emerson Royal, who recently left for AC Milan, in a move that could also give Spurs fans a hint that Archie Gray will be seen as a midfielder rather than a right-back under Ange Postecoglou.

"Obscene" Vanderson can provide backup for Porro

There's no doubt that the right-back spot is Pedro Porro's to lose in North London, but those in north London saw just how big a drop-off in quality their side suffered whenever the Spaniard was unavailable. By signing Vanderson, that problem could be solved. The Brazilian, still just 23 years old, has impressed during his time at Monaco.

Whilst Vanderson struggled to produce the same impressive output as Porro, he excelled off the ball when winning back possession, which is a vital trait for a potential Postecoglou player to have in abundance.

The Tottenham Hotspur squad between the years of 2007 and 2009 was filled to the brim with Premier League cult heroes and iconic players of the competition. It was a period for Spurs in which they won the League Cup in 2008, their most recent trophy.

One of the players in that Spurs squad who was just breaking through was Premier League legend Gareth Bale. Although he suffered a bad injury midway through the 2007/08 season, Bale’s quality was on show as he scored three goals and an assist from left-back. The following season, he began to play on the wing, a move which would transform his career.

In that same squad, Spurs had the likes of Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov as centre-forward options, a trio of iconic Premier League players, The League Cup final of 2008 was a game in which Berbatov scored for Spurs from the penalty spot to help them on their way to a famous victory over Chelsea.

Legendary midfielder Luka Modric was also in the Spurs squad around that time, although he signed in the summer of 2008 and missed the triumph of the League Cup. The Croatian played 160 times for the Lilywhites and had a superb impact on their squad before a move to Real Madrid in 2012.

Looking at the present day and ahead to the future, Spurs have been linked with another midfielder in recent days who could join the club and have a similar impact to that of Modric on their midfield.

Spurs target Serie A midfielder

The player in question here is Juventus and Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli. The 26-year-old had an important part to play for the Old Lady last season, but could well depart the club this summer.

According to a report from Football Insider, the Lilywhites are believed to be 'plotting a move' for the midfielder this summer. Locatelli is 'seen as a potential replacement' for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg by the hierarchy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Dane left Spurs this summer to join Marseille on a loan deal with an obligation to buy for a reported £17m in a year's time.

In terms of a price for Locatelli this summer, the Turin side would be willing to do business for the Italian at a fee of around £20m. However, he is under contract for another four years, meaning the Italian giants would hold a lot of power in any negotiations.

How Locatelli could replicate Modric

Last season, he played 40 times in all competitions, which included 36 appearances in Serie A. He scored once in the league and grabbed four assists, as well as two more in the Coppa Italia as Juve went on to lift the trophy, which was Massimiliano Allegri’s final one as manager of the Italian giants.

Locatelli, who has 28 caps for Gli Azzurri so far, is a midfield “maestro”, as football talent scout Jacek Kulig describes him. He sits in midfield and pulls the strings, dictating the tempo his side plays at. Much like Modric has done over the years for Spurs and then Real Madrid, Locatelli is a controller in the middle of the park.

Modric has received such high praise over his career, for all of his brilliance on the ball to control the game and create chances. Brazil legend and former Los Blancos midfielder Kaka praised the Croatian for the fact he makes football look "easy to play", before explaining how the beautiful game is "like a dance for him".

A midfielder who can control the game from deeper areas is perhaps not a profile Spurs have in their squad when considering their current midfielders' on-the-ball traits. The likes of James Maddison possess creativity in the final third while Pape Matar Sarr is more of a carry-first midfielder, but a dictator of play from a deeper role is something they don’t have.

Locatelli could also be a good replacement for Yves Bissouma, who has had a tough start to the season at Spurs, after his internal suspension for an off-field incident. Should Spurs sign Locatelli, he could be a good option to replace the former Brighton man in the starting XI, who is also a carry-first midfielder like Sarr. Again, it would add excellent versatility to the Spurs squad.

Locatelli could become that player for Ange Postecoglou and help add a new profile to the exciting project in north London. In many ways, he can replicate the impact Modric himself had at the club.

This is also reflected in his stats on analysis site FBref, which show the Italian’s quality when on the ball. Last season in Serie A, he averaged 6.94 progressive passes and 6.85 passes into the final third per 90 minutes. That ranked him in the top 4% and 3% of Serie A midfielders respectively.

It is also worth noting that the 26-year-old completes more switches each game than most in his position - 1.02 per 90 to be exact. That ranks him in the top 3% of midfielders in Italy’s top flight and shows just how much he keeps things ticking over in midfield by constantly looking to find teammates in space.

For all of the on-ball qualities the former Sassuolo midfielder would bring to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he is also more than competent out of possession. Last season, the Italian averaged 2.81 tackles and interceptions and 5.12 ball recoveries per 90 minutes.

Football analyst Ben Mattinson described Locatelli as an "artist in midfield", and it is hard to disagree with him given the stats. There are definitely similarities to Modric, who is one of the best midfield controllers of all time, and he could replicate what he did in a Spurs shirt.

For just £20m, this seems like a deal Spurs should not miss out on, and would be a brilliant acquisition to add quality and a unique profile to their squad to help reach the next level under Postecoglou.

The Premier League is finally back, and after a long summer of international football and transfer rumours flying here, there, and everywhere, Tottenham Hotspur look ready to fight for a place in the top four.

Ange Postecoglou led his side to a respectable fifth-placed finish in his first campaign at the club, but with that experience under his belt and a plethora of new signings added to the squad, Champions League football has to be the goal.

Speaking of signings, there is certainly an argument to be made that, as things stand, the Lilywhites have had one of the best summers in the league. With Archie Gray and Yan Min-Hyeok secured for the future and Dominic Solanke signed for the here and now, there is much to be excited about in N17.

However, even though the former Bournemouth ace cost the North Londoners a whopping £65m last week, they are still making moves in the market, most notably with the capture of Burnley ace Wilson Odobert.

The young winger is an incredibly exciting addition to the team, and with the window open for another two weeks, Daniel Levy and Co could really blow the roof off by bringing in another vastly experienced attacker who'd be a dream teammate for the Frenchman.

Odobert's surprise move to Spurs

The biggest drawback of the modern football landscape is that it's increasingly rare for clubs to pull off surprising transfer deals. Still, it would be fair to say that very few people, if anyone, expected Tottenham to complete the signing of Burnley star Odobert yesterday.

Somehow, the deal had remained off everyone's radar, and yet within a few hours of the first rumours, the BBC had confirmed the Frenchman's £25m move to North London.

Now, that might seem like quite a lot of money for a 19-year-old because, well, it is, but based on his performances for the Clarets last season and the potential so many believe him to have, it may well end up looking like a bargain in the years to come.

For example, despite being so young, he scored three goals and provided three assists in 29 Premier League appearances last season, meaning that he averaged a goal involvement every 4.83 games for a relegation candidate in the toughest league in the world - talk about promising.

Moreover, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the "extraordinary" talent, as dubbed by journalist Andrés Onrubia Ramos, sat in the top 3% of forwards for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

In all, Odobert looks like a brilliant signing for Spurs, although to get even more out of him, the club could now go after a more experienced striker they've been linked with all summer.

Why Toney would be great for Odobert

Yes, the potential target in question is none other than Brentford's wantaway striker Ivan Toney, who has been touted for a move to N17 for months.

Now, some of you may be wondering why the club would want to sign another striker so soon after splashing the cash on Solanke, and frankly, that's a good question, but according to reports earlier this week, that is something they might do, even though he's valued at £60m.

Perhaps it's an admission that Richarlison isn't a clinical enough player to be the club's backup striker when they want to be seriously challenging in all competitions this year, or it may just be a thought process that you can never have too many goalscorers in a team.

Whatever the reason, signing the Bees ace would mean adding some serious quality to the squad, and given his experience in the top flight, he'd be a dream signing for Odobert.

Just imagine if the former Burnley ace was tasked with starting alongside the 28-year-old "monster", as Thomas Frank dubbed him, he would surely feel more confident that whatever chances he created would be put away.

He wouldn't be too far off the mark either, as even when you include last season, which was massively disrupted by his eight-month ban from all footballing activities, the Northampton-born star has racked up a seriously impressive haul of 47 Premier League goal involvements in 83 appearances for Brentford, equating to one every 1.76 games.

Ultimately, while it would be a surprise, adding Toney to the club's rapidly improving attack would be a seriously ambitious move, and his knowhow and experience could prove to be incredibly beneficial for Odobert's development - although they might want to hold out for a lower price for a bit longer.

Tottenham Hotspur kickstart their Premier League campaign on Monday night with a tricky away game to newly promoted Leicester City.

Ange Postecoglou's side will be looking to go one better than they did last year and qualify for the Champions League, although to do that, they'll need to make sure they're operating at near their best for the next ten months.

With that in mind, the suspension of Yves Bissouma for his misconduct off the pitch could not have come at a worse time for the club, and following an incredibly underwhelming season last year - to be diplomatic - it could be time to move on.

Fortunately, recent reports have again linked the North Londoners to a longstanding transfer target who could be the perfect long-term upgrade on the Mali international.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth via GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham are still interested in Chelsea ace Conor Gallagher.

Yes, following the Englishman's move to Atlético Madrid stalling and his subsequent return to West London, Sheth has claimed that the North Londoners will be "keeping an eye" on the situation.

The Lilywhites have been consistently linked with the Epsom-born midfielder in recent years, but their chances of securing his services looked to be over earlier this month when it appeared his transfer to Atlético was all but sewn up. However, the events of the last week or so have changed the situation.

While some fans may not be delighted with the links returning, Gallagher could be the perfect solution to their Bissouma problem, especially if Levy and Co can get a deal done close to the £34m the Spanish side supposedly agreed to pay.

How Gallagher compares to Bissouma

Okay, so before the pitchforks come out, we aren't saying this move is going to happen, as at this point, who knows where Gallagher is going to end up?

However, if the reports are accurate about Spurs' lingering interest, it's worth comparing him to one of the players he could replace in Postecoglou's squad, Bissouma, as while the Englishman has played all over midfield in West London, he's started a significant number of games in defensive midfield, 59 to be exact, and could therefore be an ideal replacement.

So, how do the pair stack up with one another? Well, as you might expect given the areas they primarily operated in last season, it's the Chelsea ace who comes out miles ahead in terms of raw output, scoring seven goals and providing nine assists in 50 appearances, compared to the Malian's return of zero goals or assists in 28 games.

A better way to compare the two midfielders is to look at their underlying numbers from last season, although unfortunately for the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace, this is another comparison in which he comes out looking significantly weaker than the player who could replace him.

For example, the 24-year-old "pressing and transition monster", as dubbed by analyst EBL, comes out on top in the majority of relevant metrics, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes received, shots and shots on target, key passes, passes into the penalty area and shot and goal-creating actions 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.

Interestingly, he even comes out on top in a few defensive metrics, like shots and passes blocked, ball recoveries and aerial duels won per 90, highlighting that he can excel in both areas of the pitch.

Ultimately, this is a move that was entirely off the table just a week ago, so whether the Lilywhites can get their hands on Gallagher this summer is anyone's guess, but given Bissouma's disappointing displays last season and his antics off the pitch this year, bringing in the Chelsea man to replace him doesn't seem like the worst idea.

Tottenham insiders are believed to be very excited by a teenage prodigy behind the scenes, and one who has been backed to become a £100 million star.

Spurs prepare for Leicester City as new Premier League season begins

The new Premier League season officially kicks off tonight as Manchester United host Fulham at Old Trafford, and Spurs begin their campaign on Monday with a trip to newly-promoted Leicester City.

Ange Postecoglou is just days away from the commencement of his second full campaign in charge of the Lilywhites, and the Australian will be looking to build upon last season's fifth-placed finish.

Spurs also have the added pressure of Europa League football, and the influx of extra games which come with it, so there is more pressure on Postecoglou's shoulders after a promising first season in the dugout.

The signs are certainly there, though, with Postecoglou recording the best start of any new manager in Premier League history this time last year. Tottenham won eight out of their opening 10 top-flight matches under Postecoglou, drawing the other two, and it took multiple injuries to key players for that run to end when Chelsea put Spurs to the sword in north London last November.

Supporters will be hoping for a similar start this time round, without the Chelsea humiliation, especially considering some of their astute summer transfers.

Out of nowhere on Friday, Tottenham confirmed the signing of winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley in a £25 million deal, coming after Fabrizio Romano claimed they could bring in another wide player alongside their new striker in Dominic Solanke.

Before both Solanke and Odobert, Tottenham sealed a £40 million move for English sensation Archie Gray, who went on to impress in pre-season.

Tottenham insiders excited by Archie Gray

The 18-year-old is fresh off the back of an excellent campaign with former club Leeds United in the Championship, where he played a crucial role in their run to the Play-Off final at Wembley in May.

The versatile midfielder, who can also play at right-back, has been tipped to become a future £100 million star, and journalist Charlie Eccleshare says people at Tottenham are very excited by Gray from what they've seen of him behind the scenes.

"It makes the club a more attractive place to go to for young players, Archie Gray, the last year or so, everyone I have spoken to about him has just gushed about how good he is and how good he could be," said Eccleshare to the Last Word on Spurs podcast (via TBR).

"He’s definitely a really exciting one."

And just like that, the Premier League is back, and while every team has something to play for, that feels especially true for Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lilywhites enjoyed a generally positive first campaign under Ange Postecoglou last year, but following a disappointing end to the campaign that saw them slip out of the Champions League places, they need to ensure they go one better in 2024/25.

Fortunately, Daniel Levy and Co have done their jobs this summer with the captures of Archie Gray, Yang Min-Hyeok, and most importantly, Dominic Solanke.

The talented number nine could be a real game-changer for the North Londoners this summer. However, it appears he won't be the only attacking addition this summer, with reports now linking another forward who outscored the Englishman with a move to the club.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from France, Tottenham are 'very interested' in signing LOSC Lille's Canadian striker Jonathan David this summer.

Interestingly, while the report itself seems to believe the 24-year-old will remain in the North of France this year, the message from LOSC's president, Olivier Letang, is far less certain, with him saying: "I'm not going to make promises today that I can't keep."

There have been other stories in the last week or so corroborating the North Londoners' desire to bring the former Gent ace to N17, and a separate report from Football Insider towards the end of last month confirmed that talks had been held and that the player could be available for as little as £20m, likely due to his contract expiring next year.

In all, this looks like a transfer that could go either way at the moment, but at the price reported, bringing in another quality attacker who outscored Solanke last season is a no-brainer.

Why David would be an excellent signing

Fundamentally, there is one primary reason why Tottenham should be looking to sign David this summer: he scores goals, and plenty of them at that.

For example, in 47 appearances last season, the "mind-blowing" poacher, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored a whopping 26 goals and provided nine assists to boot, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.34 games.

In contrast, Solanke, who enjoyed a stellar campaign last year, scored 21 goals and provided four assists in 42 appearances for the Cherries, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.68 games.

Now, we aren't saying that the Canadian international would come into the team and displace the Englishman as Postecoglou's starting striker. That seems incredibly unlikely given his £65m price tag, but he would be an exceptional second choice, and with the number of games teams have to play nowadays, he'd still get plenty of game time.

If some of you are still not convinced by his performances last season, then you only need to look back at his club record between 20/21 and 23/24, as in that period, he was outrageously consistent, scoring 84 goals and providing 18 assists in 183 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.79 games.

Such a record makes it hard to disagree with journalist Tony Marinaro's description of the 54-capped international as "one of the best strikers in the world."

Lastly, according to Understat, he hasn't underperformed his expected goals figure in the league by more than 1.25 in the last four years, suggesting that when he's presented with a good chance, you can be confident that he'll usually put it away.

Ultimately, Solanke looks set to be Spurs' main number nine next season, but with David supposedly available for just £20m, not signing him feels like an own goal, as he'd bring so much quality attacking depth to Postecoglou's squad.

While things started a little slowly, there can be no denying that, as things stand, Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed a brilliant summer.

The North Londoners have looked impressive on the pitch and intelligent off it.

Daniel Levy and Co have signed exciting prospects for the future in Archie Gray and Yang Mi-Hyeok, got rid of those they no longer need, like Emerson Royal, and dramatically improved the first team for the here and now with the massive £65m signing of Dominic Solanke.

The now-former Bournemouth ace was the joint-fourth top goalscorer in the Premier League last season, so there is real hope that he could be even more effective this season in a team with more quality around him.

While many teams would be happy with the business Spurs have done this summer, it appears as if they are set to do even more.

They are now heavily linked with AS Monaco right-back Vanderson, although he'll have to really impress in North London if he wants his valuation to match one of his potential new teammates.

The latest on Vanderson to Spurs

So, according to a report from earlier this week, Spurs were already in talks with Monaco over the potential transfer of Brazilian right-back Vanderson.

The report claimed that the French side expected the North Londoners to make an offer in the region of €40m for the player, which converts to around £34m.

This news was then backed up by another story a few days later, claiming that people close to the right-back believe that the Lilywhites could soon make a 'breakthrough' in the negotiations.

It all sounds rather promising from Tottenham's point of view, and while the supposed transfer fee is relatively high, it could prove value for money in the long run for a full-back who's racked up 15 goals and assists in 84 appearances in Europe.

However, while the "sensational" defender, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, looks promising, he'll have to do something special in a Spurs shirt to surpass the value of the club's most exciting full-back.

Destiny Udogie's valuation in 2024

Yes, the player in question is the immensely exciting Destiny Udogie, who, according to the CIES Football Observatory, is worth up to a whopping €83m, which converts to around £71m.

This means the Italian youngster is worth £37m more than Vanderson and, more impressively, £6m more than the club's new number nine, Solanke.

This massive increase from the £15m plus bonuses that he initially cost the North Londoners back in August 2022 might sound ridiculous, but given his form for the club last season and the sky-high potential so many in the know believe him to have, it probably isn't.

For example, in 31 appearances last season, the "incredible talent", as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting, scored two goals and provided three assists, meaning that in his first Premier League campaign, which he started as a 20-year-old, he averaged a goal involvement once every 6.2 games from left-back.

This impressive output, combined with his overall game, saw him become Tottenham's first player to be nominated for the Premier League's Young Player of the Season Award.

Ultimately, Vanderson looks like he'll be an exciting addition to help improve the team's depth at right-back, but he'll have to blow the roof off the Tottenham Hotspur stadium if he's going to see his valuation get anywhere near Udogies in the coming seasons.

There are still a couple of weeks until the transfer window closes, but as things stand, Tottenham Hotspur have had a relatively good summer.

Daniel Levy and Co are clearly planning for the future with the signings of Archie Gray and Yang Min-Hyeok, while the £65m capture of Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke is a clear signal of intent that under Ange Postecoglou, the North Londoners mean business.

However, it's not all about incomings.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that the much-maligned Emerson Royal left the club to join AC Milan, and based on numerous recent reports, Giovani Lo Celso could be the next one out the door, and the club has already been linked to his dream replacement this summer.

Lo Celso's time at Spurs

It would be hard to deny that Lo Celso has been a massive disappointment at Spurs in the years following his 2019 transfer from Real Betis.

In total, he has made just 108 appearances for the club, scored ten goals, provided eight assists and spent a season and a half on loan with Villarreal due to his underwhelming displays in North London.

With such a mediocre record for the club, it's unsurprising that they want to move him on this summer. Reports earlier in the window suggested that there were plans to use him as part of a swap deal to bring in Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey.

However, while that deal looks off the table, a report from Football Insider earlier this week revealed that the Lilywhites are now willing to accept a fee as low as £10m for the Copa América winner, as he's not in Postecoglou's plans.

While selling him is best for all parties, the club will still need to sign someone in his place to ensure the squad is large enough to cover all eventualities over the next ten months, and they were linked to the perfect candidate earlier this summer, Fabian Ruiz.

How Ruiz compares to Lo Celso

The link to Ruiz emerged in mid-June, and while there haven't been many more since then to suggest Spurs are keen on the £150k-per-week Spaniard, they should be, as he's the perfect upgrade on Lo Celso.

For example, in 35 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain last season, the 28-year-old "artist", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored three goals and provided seven assists. This means he averaged a goal involvement every 3.5 games, which is quite impressive for a player who moved between defensive, central, and attacking midfield positions.

In contrast, the Argentine international could only score two goals and provide two assists in his 24 appearances last season, which equates to a goal involvement on average every six games.

The one-sided nature of the comparison extends into their national team performances over the summer as well.

While both players were part of a winning team, they played very different roles within their respective squads.

For example, the "box-crashing" Spaniard, as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, started every game bar the third group match and played a total of 543 minutes of action, in which he scored two goals, provided two assists and was then named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament.

In contrast, the Lilywhites ace only started one game for Argentina, played 149 minutes, failed to score or assist a goal, and did not make the Team of the Tournament.