FootballFanCast.com

It's been a busy summer for Tottenham Hotspur so far this year, both on and off the pitch.

The North Londoners have already secured the services of Archie Gray, Yang Min-Hyeok, and, most importantly, Dominic Solanke.

However, they've also been working on selling players, with Emerson Royal completing his move to AC Milan on Monday for an undisclosed fee.

This exit means the club is short at right-back, although interestingly, recent reports have linked them to a star who's earned comparisons to Pedro Porro.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

Daniel Levy and Co may have only just completed the impressive £65m capture of Solanke over the weekend, but a recent report from journalist Bruno Andrade has revealed that the club are now interested in signing AS Monaco's Vanderson.

In fact, Andrade has actually revealed that the Lilywhites have already "opened talks with Monaco" and that the French side are "expecting an offer in the region of 40 million euros."

That fee converts to around £34m, and while that's a lot of money, the sale of Emerson means that a new option at right-back is probably needed this summer.

Moreover, Vanderson has impressed for Les Monégasques and the fact he's been compared to Porro should encourage fans that this is a deal worth pursuing.

Vanderson's comparison to Porro

So, Vanderson and Porro share one fundamental similarity: they are both very attacking full-backs.

For example, when talking about the Monaco ace, respected data analyst Ben Mattinson described him as "very good going forward", while U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed he is blessed with "obscene pace and acceleration."

Likewise, Mango described the Spaniard as an "aggressive" full-back with "a wonderful low centre of gravity" who is "extremely dangerous" in attack, which is hard to deny when you watch him play.

However, while the praise and analysis help us understand how they operate, you can also see their forward-thinking tendencies in their raw output.

For example, in 37 appearances for the Lilywhites last season, the former Sporting CP gem scored four goals and provided seven assists, equating to a seriously impressive average of a goal involvement every 3.36 games.

Likewise, while he could only make 23 appearances for Monaco last season partly due to injury, the Brazilian defender still scored three goals and provided four assists, meaning that he maintained an average of a goal involvement every 5.75 games, which is still impressive for a player in his position.

Finally, if people are still unsure of how similar the two right-backs are, they only need to look at Football Transfers, which has ranked Porro as the fifth most comparable player to Vanderson across football.

Ultimately, while he could cost the club a pretty penny, bringing the Monaco man in to replace Emerson this summer and fight for a place in the team seems like the perfect way to maximise Postecoglou's attacking philosophy in every aspect of the team.

Therefore, Levy and Co should do what they can to get this deal done, and who knows, another attack-minded full-back in the team could even help Solanke hit the ground running.

The Premier League has seen numerous exhilarating fixtures since its inception in 1992.

More often than not, a game starts with 22 players on the pitch and finishes with the same number. However, we have recently seen games finishing with a significant reduction in numbers - particularly since the introduction of VAR.

But what top-flight games have received the most cards in the Premier League's history? We have delved into the stats to find out the league's ugliest fixtures.

For this list, we consider players to have been booked twice as receiving three cards (2 yellows, 1 red).

An all-London classic saw two sides quite literally come to blows back in October 1999, a time when Harry Redknapp was joined by Frank Lampard Sr in the West Ham dugout.

Four of the yellow cards were awarded to Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira and the Hammers' Marc-Vivien Foe alone, with a total of 11 yellows brandished at Upton Park, where the Gunners failed to overcome a Paolo Di Canio brace - while outnumbering the Hammers' cautions by 7 to 6.

Davor Suker’s 77th-minute strike offered the Gunners a glimmer of hope, but it wasn’t enough for Arsene Wenger’s side in a season when they would go on to finish second, 18 points behind Manchester United.

Just five weeks after their action-packed defeat to West Ham, Arsenal were involved in another feisty affair against their even-bigger rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

It was Spurs’ last league victory at White Hart Lane against the Gunners for 11 years, until April 2010.

The visitors picked up most of the cards, with Freddie Ljungberg seeing a straight red after taking issue with a challenge from Justin Edinburgh (he later aimed a V sign at referee David Elleray) and Martin Keown taking a walk after a second yellow in added time.

Steffen Iversen and Tim Sherwood scored two early goals for Spurs and Arsenal could only offer one of their own through Vieira.

Arsenal fans, rest assured - it wasn’t anyone's intention to feature three successive 2-1 defeats on this list of Premier League games with the most cards!

We’re talking about the Gunners again, but this time it was Leeds United who were the more aggressive of the two: Lee Bowyer and Danny Mills both saw red after picking up their second yellow cards in the final 15 minutes of play.

Leeds picked up 7 of the 11 yellows that day, and bizarrely ended the game not only as the victors, but with over half their team coming through unscathed.

Ian Harte put David O’Leary’s side ahead after 29 minutes with a cheeky quick free kick, but Arsenal equalised through Sylvain Wiltord three minutes later.

Then, in what was Arsenal’s first home game of the 2001/02 season, Mark Viduka’s 53rd-minute strike sent the away fans into bedlam and secured all three points for Leeds.

Everton’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at Goodison Park in September 2003 saw four second-half goals, three successfully converted penalties, a straight red and 11 yellow cards.

Newcastle had yet to register a Premier League win for the season, but took the lead after Gary Naysmith’s straight red card allowed Alan Shearer to net from 12 yards in the 58th minute.

However, the Magpies were already down to 10 men, as Laurent Robert had been shown a second yellow in the first half, and it took Everton just eight minutes to equalise through Tomasz Radzinski.

Shearer scored another penalty, but Duncan Ferguson’s spot kick salvaged a point for the hosts with three minutes to play.

Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Everton in March 2006 is not the only Merseyside derby to appear on this list. This was a particularly memorable one that featured a red card after only 18 minutes of play.

Steven Gerrard was the recipient of two quickfire yellows for kicking the ball away and a bad tackle on Kevin Kilbane from referee Phil Dowd at Anfield.

Six of Everton’s starting XI were also booked, while substitute Andy van der Meyde received a straight red card in the 73rd minute for an elbow just five minutes after coming on the pitch.

Luis Garcia doubled the Reds’ lead after a Phil Neville own goal. Tim Cahill pulled one back for the visitors, but Harry Kewell secured all three points for Liverpool with six minutes remaining.

It was a Midlands derby with a difference. Not only was it played in front of no fans, but Wolves’ 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at Molineux also witnessed one of the highest card counts in Premier League history.

There was little action in the opening stages of the fixture until the final 10 minutes, which saw five yellow cards and a red. There would follow an additional red card and a penalty four minutes into added time.

Mike Dean awarded Villa a penalty in the 94th minute after Nelson Semedo brought John McGinn down in the box, and Anwar El Ghazi converted.

A minute later, Joao Moutinho received his second yellow and joined Douglas Luiz, who had done the same late on, in having an early shower to leave both sides with 10 men and little time remaining on the clock.

Spurs' 2-1 victory over Liverpool last season was one of the most controversial and dramatic games in recent years; it was memorable for numerous reasons. It quite literally had everything.

A straight red, three goals - including a 96th-minute own goal - 12 yellow cards and a goal that was incorrectly disallowed.

The referees' body, PGMOL, officially apologised after the game for incorrectly ruling Luis Diaz’s first-half strike as offside.

Aside from the three goals and Joel Matip’s own goal, which gifted Spurs the victory, this Premier League thriller was also packed with cards.

Curtis Jones was handed a straight red, while Diogo Jota joined him in the dressing room after picking up two yellows inside the space of a minute in the second half.

A five-goal Boxing Day thriller between Southampton and Wimbledon in the 1994/95 season was packed with plenty of festive cards.

Only two points separated the two sides going into the fixture, with both teams in mid-table. Despite this, the visiting Dons were just three points above the drop, with four clubs going down that season.

However, with the teams all square at the break, it was Wimbledon who stole all three points through a Dean Holdsworth penalty in the 72nd minute.

Onto a fixture where you would expect to see an abundance of cards on display. It was one of the most memorable Merseyside derbies of all time in April 2001 when Gary McAllister’s incredible free-kick saw Liverpool win at Goodison Park for the first time since 1990.

Emile Heskey opened the scoring for the visitors, bagging his 21st goal of the season after just five minutes. Duncan Ferguson and Markus Babbel then exchanged goals before Robbie Fowler smacked the post with a penalty.

Everton thought they had secured a point when David Unsworth’s penalty made it 2-2, but McAllister’s stunner in the fourth minute of stoppage time snatched a win for the Reds.

To add to the drama, Igor Biscan saw red after 77 minutes with his second yellow of the game, and 10 other yellow cards were handed out from the 9th minute, right up until the 94th.

Everton received a total of nine yellow cards on their visit to St James’ Park in February 1995. Two of those led to a red for Earl Barrett, who was making his debut after a move from Aston Villa, and Barry Horne, who made the walk to the dressing room just a minute later.

Newcastle scored their goals through Ruel Fox and a Peter Beardsley penalty. The Toon would go on to finish sixth that year and Everton ended 15th, albeit with an FA Cup triumph to cap the season.

Goalless draws are usually dubbed as boring, but when you’ve got 13 yellow cards and a red in 90 minutes, it’s hard to class a match as dull.

Chelsea visited Leeds in October 1998 after a near-perfect start to the season had them fourth, level with Middlesbrough and behind Man Utd and Aston Villa. Leeds, on the other hand, couldn’t stop drawing, with six in their opening nine games.

It was one of those games that had everything except a goal, proving a microcosm of Leeds’ form in the opening stages of the 1998/99 season.

Frank Leboeuf was sent off in the 61st minute after receiving his second yellow card. Six other Chelsea players were booked and Leeds had five of their own, including Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who would sign for Chelsea two seasons later.

Spurs and drama in the 2023/24 season seemed to go hand in hand.

Their 2-1 victory over Sheffield United on 16th September had the most cards of any Premier League game in its history.

Not only that, but from the 90th minute onwards, there were four yellow cards and two goals right up until the 10th minute of added time.

After Gustavo Hamer put the Blades ahead in the 73rd minute, stoppage-time goals from Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski gave Spurs a dramatic win in a game where they had trailed to the Blades in as late as the 98th minute.

Oliver McBurnie got a red card in the 114th minute of play for a second bookable offence, adding insult to injury for Paul Heckingbottom's men.

It's been a good summer for Tottenham Hotspur so far this year.

Ange Postecoglou's side have won the majority of their preseason friendlies, put up a good fight in the losses against Bayern Munich and been proactive in the transfer market.

The signings of Archie Gray and Yang Min-Hyeok are exciting windows into the future of the team, while the £65m capture of Dominic Solanke is a signal of intent for the here and now.

However, some players, including Dejan Kulusevski, underperformed last season and could potentially be upgraded.

Interestingly, the club have already been linked with someone who could be the ideal replacement for the Swede and a great teammate for Solanke.

How Solanke could transform Spurs

So then, the biggest transfer in the last week or so and easily the biggest deal for Tottenham overall this summer is undoubtedly Solanke.

The Englishman's £65m move from Bournemouth indicates that the North Londoners are intent on taking another step forward this season and maximising Postecoglou's ultra-aggressive style.

The club signed the former Liverpool ace primarily because of his goalscoring ability, and to say he's in a league of his own among his new teammates in this regard would be an understatement.

For example, last season, he scored 21 goals in 42 appearances while also chipping in with four assists for good measure.

The only player to score more than 15 goals in the Spurs squad was Son Heung-min, while the club's only recognised striker, Richarrlison, found the back of the net just 12 times.

For his efforts, Kulusevski scored eight goals last season, but he only recorded three assists in 39 appearances, equating to a goal involvement every 3.55 games. This suggests that there is room to upgrade on the former Juventus ace, and a player the club were linked with earlier this year could be the ideal replacement.

How Kubo compares to Kulusevski

Yes, the winger in question is Japanese international and former Real Madrid player Takefusa Kubo.

The 23-year-old was touted for a move to N17 in late June when it was reported that the North Londoners were 'very interested' in signing him ahead of fellow Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United.

It was reported that to get the deal over the line, Daniel Levy and Co would have to sanction a £51m bid to activate his release clause, and while they didn't, they should have.

The 35-capped international primarily plays off the right and would be a great option to either challenge or outright replace Kulusevski this season, and while his raw output of seven goals and five assists in 41 matches results in a marginally better average of one goal involvement every 3.41 games, his underlying numbers are much better.

For example, in practically every relevant metric, the "insane" Sociedad star, as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, comes out way ahead, including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, shots and shots on target, key passes, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and even 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.

In his defence, the Stockholm-born ace does better in some metrics, such as progressive passes and passing accuracy, but that is about it.

Ultimately, if Postecoglou and Co want to give Solanke the best chance of success in North London, then bringing in a new right-winger who plays more key passes and produces more shot and goal-creating actions would be a great start, and in Kubo, they'd have exactly that.

Therefore, even though it would impact Kulusevski's game time, Levy should return to the Basque side and stump up the cash required to activate the Japanese star's release clause this summer.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has given the green-light for his side to make a potential move for one £120,000-per-week Tottenham ace this summer.

Tottenham seal Solanke signing with Emerson leaving

It's been a busy few days at Spurs with manager Ange Postecoglou getting his top striker target through the door, while simultaneously waving goodbye to a regular of last season.

Tottenham sealed a £65 million deal for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, which the club announced on Saturday. The Englishman, who scored 21 goals in all competitions last season, comes in to bolster Postecoglou's forward options and replace former star Harry Kane.

"It's a magnificent club, a huge club with ambitions that match mine, so I'm delighted to start and meet all the boys and get started," Solanke told Spurs TV (via BBC).

"What excites me most about the club is how ambitious it is. A great manager, great players and I feel like [Spurs] will definitely suit my style of play as well so I can't wait to get started and do my stuff on the pitch."

Meanwhile, Postecoglou admitted that Solanke is a player he was very keen to get through the door at N17, tipping the 26-year-old to be a great fit in his Spurs side.

“He was obviously one I was very keen to get in," said Postecoglou on signing Solanke.

"It took a while to get it over the line but I think he will be a great fit for us in terms of the player he is and the point of his career where he is at. I think he will be a good fit. As I said, we are a bit light in that front third in terms of adding quality not just to the squad but also to our team. He certainly does that. Pleased to get him on board and we have a week and a bit to work with him.”

Amid their completed deal for Solanke, Spurs managed to trim their squad of one more player, as defender Emerson Royal finally seals his move to AC Milan from Tottenham after what felt like months of talks.

Hansi Flick green-lights Barcelona move for Sergio Reguilon

After the Brazilian, it appears another Tottenham full-back is attracting interest from an elite European club, with Sergio Reguilon on Barcelona's radar.

The £120,000-per-week ace is seemingly surplus to requirements and has been linked with a move away all summer. Reguilon spent last campaign on two half-season loan spells at Man United and Brentford respectively, with his contract also expiring next year.

Spanish news outlet Sport now have an update on his future, claiming Barcelona boss Flick has approved a swoop for Reguilon, as the Catalans turn their attention to the 27-year-old with talks to sign Joao Cancelo from Man City going nowhere.

While he has had a mixed time in the Premier League, Reguilon was voted La Liga's 2019/2020 best left-back while on loan at Sevilla, so he has proven experience in the Spanish top flight.

This may well be in Barca's thinking amid their search for a new left-back, so this transfer could be one to watch.

All things considered, Tottenham Hotspur enjoyed a relatively successful campaign last season.

In his first year with the club, Ange Postecoglou helped to steady the ship and lead them back into European football, although they did slip out of the Champions League places in the final few game weeks.

This season, the Australian has to take the team back into the top four, but to do that, he'll need Daniel Levy and Co to do their jobs and bring in the right reinforcements this summer.

Fortunately, even after splashing £65m on Dominic Solanke, that appears to be happening, as the latest star touted for a move to N17 would be an incredible addition to the midfield and a perfect upgrade to Yves Bissouma.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Italy, Tottenham are now interested in signing Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli.

In fact, the report claims that the North Londoners are now 'ready to offer 24 million plus bonuses to convince Juve to sell the player', which converts to around £21m.

The good news for the Lilywhites is that the report also reveals that the Old Lady would be willing to let the player leave for 'a good offer,' and the one Levy and Co are said to be preparing would fit that criteria.

It's not an insignificant amount of money, but given how well Locatelli can play, it could prove value for money in the long run, and he'd be a great Bissouma upgrade.

How Locatelli compares to Bissouma

So, the first thing to clear up is that while Locatelli is more than capable of playing as the team's eight - making 76 appearances in central midfield - he has spent the vast majority of his career playing as a defensive midfielder, making 228 appearances in the position across his time with Juventus, Sassuolo and AC Milan.

This would mean one of his likely competitors at Tottenham would be Bissouma, so how do the pair stack up to one another over the last couple of campaigns?

Well, when it comes to their raw output, there is not much of a comparison at all, as in his 89 appearances for the Old Lady since the start of 22/23, the Italian ace has scored one goal and provided eight assists, meaning he has averaged a goal involvement every 9.88 games.

In comparison, the Spurs star has failed to score a single goal or provide even one assist in his 56 games in the same period, which is a poor return even for a six.

Okay, so while the former Sassuolo star clearly offers far more of a goal threat than the Malian international, does he also come out miles ahead when we compare their underlying numbers?

The good news for the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace is that it isn't entirely as one-sided here, but the bad news is that he is still second best to the Lecco-born "dominator", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

For example, the Euro 2020 winner 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 on target, key passes, passes and crosses into the penalty area and shot and goals-creating actions, all per 90.

It's not just going forward where the 26-year-old thrives either, as he comes out on top in several defensive metrics such as blocks, clearances, and aerial duels won, as well as making substantially fewer errors that lead to an opponent's shot, also per 90.

Ultimately, while Bissouma has looked good in spells for Postecoglou, Locatelli appears to be his superior in practically every measurable way, from raw output to their underlying numbers, both offensive and defensive.

Therefore, Levy and Co should do what they can and bring the talented international to N17 this summer, as his experience in the middle of the park could be precisely what Spurs need this season.

All things considered, it's been a good summer for Tottenham Hotspur so far.

Ange Postecoglou's side have won four out of six preseason friendlies, signed two exciting prospects in Archie Gray and Yang Min-Hyeok, and, most importantly, secured the services of Dominic Solanke in a £65m deal that could bring a mountain of goals to the North Londoners' attacking style this season.

However, Daniel Levy and Co appear to be still hard at work.

Recent reports have touted another talented star for a move to N17 in the coming weeks, and his arrival could be the much-needed upgrade on a player who never made the grade at the club.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Dean Jones via GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham's interest in Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters should be back in focus in the coming weeks.

Jones claims that with Emerson Royal's exit to AC Milan, the North Londoners could refocus their attention on signing the young Englishman, who used to play for the club.

How much the 27-year-old would cost the Lilywhites is still up in the air, though, as Jones cites a report valuing him at around £20m, while reports from late last week price him closer to £30m.

Whatever the final price ends up being, bringing in Walker-Peters to replace and upgrade upon Emerson would be a great idea, as he's impressed at Southampton in the Premier League and Championship.

How Walker-Peters compares to Emerson

So, if Walker-Peters is signed to be Emerson's long-term replacement at right back, how does he compare to the Brazilian?

Well, when we look at their output, as in the modern game, the full-back has to contribute going forward; it's a win for the Saints ace.

In his 47 appearances for the South Coast side last season, he scored four goals and provided four assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 5.87 games.

In contrast, the former Barcelona full-back could only muster a single goal in his 24 appearances for the North Londoners last season, which is far from ideal.

Unfortunately for the Milan-bound man, the comparison is just as one-sided when we look at their underlying numbers, and even though the Englishman was playing in a weaker league, the difference is starker than it should be.

For example, in practically every single metric, the "beautiful footballer", as dubbed by manager Russell Martin, comes out on top, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots, key passes, passes into the final third and penalty area, shot and goal-creating actions and successful take-ons, all per 90.

A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the opponent's goal or any completed pass into the penalty area.

Moreover, while he comes out second best in a couple of the defensive metrics, he makes substantially fewer errors that lead to an opponent's shot, suggesting he wouldn't be a "liability", as Jamie O'Hara branded Emerson.

Ultimately, Walker-Peters looks to be an upgrade on the Brazilian from both output and underlying numbers perspectives, so if the opportunity presents itself to bring the Englishman back to North London this summer, Levy and Co should take it.

Tottenham Hotspur have less than a month to complete any remaining business that they would like to do before the end of the summer transfer window.

Ange Postecoglou can cross a new number nine off his wishlist now that Dominic Solanke is in the building, though, after the club confirmed his arrival from Bournemouth on Saturday. The Australian head coach was also presented with a fresh midfield option earlier in the summer, with Archie Gray snapped up from Leeds United in a permanent deal by Daniel Levy.

Gray may not be the only midfielder to come through the door at the London giants, however, as Spurs are reportedly pursuing a move for another player in that area of the pitch.

Spurs set to launch bid for Serie A ace

According to JuveLive, Levy is set to launch a bid to sign Juventus central midfielder Manuel Locatelli before the end of the summer transfer window. The report claims that Tottenham are ready to make an offer of €25m (£20.5m) plus bonuses to secure the Italy international's signature this month.

It states that the Lilywhites are prepared to get 'serious' about a deal in the coming days and that an exit from the Old Lady is likely if a £20m+ bid does fall on their desk.

Locatelli could be viewed as a replacement for Giovani Lo Celso, who looks set to leave the club this summer. Football Insider recently claimed that he has been deemed surplus to requirements by Postecoglou, amid interest from Aston Villa and Real Betis.

The outlet added that Spurs are willing to cash in on the Argentina international for a fee of £10m, having previously demanded a £15m package for him, but it remains to be seen whether either of the two interested parties are ready to meet their demands.

Why Spurs should sign Manuel Locatelli

Locatelli could come in as a fantastic replacement for Lo Celso as he is an experienced player at the top level in Europe, whilst still having his best years ahead of him. At the age of 26, he has plenty of years left ahead of him and would arrive at the perfect time in his career, as he is not a young player with much to learn or in the final throes of his playing days.

The Italian maestro has been capped 28 times by his country and has racked up 243 appearances in the Serie A, along with 132 outings for Juventus, which shows that he is experienced at international and domestic level.

Locatelli provided a greater creative threat than Lo Celso at league level last term, whilst also offering more balance defensively. He has the physical attributes to dominate opponents in duels on the deck and in the air, whereas the Spurs man let himself down in aerial challenges, whilst the Italian battler also made more defensive interventions per game to cut out opposition attacks.

Tottenham Hotspur have backed Ange Postecoglou in the transfer market by splashing the cash on two big-money recruits so far this summer, and are now eyeing a third.

The Lilywhites confirmed the arrival of England international Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth for a reported fee of £65m on Saturday, with £55m guaranteed and £10m in add-ons. That came after the Premier League side splashed out a fee of £30m for Leeds starlet Archie Gray earlier this summer to bolster the manager's options in the middle of the park.

Spurs do not appear to be done there, however, as Daniel Levy is now said to be eyeing up a swoop to add a new defender to the group this month.

Tottenham eyeing up Premier League full-back

According to Give Me Sport, Tottenham's interest in Southampton right-back Kyle Walker-Peters is back in focus amid Emerson Royal's expected move to AC Milan. The Brazilian defender's move to the Italian giants would leave Postecoglou light on options in the right-back position and that is why a move for the Saints star could make sense.

Give Me Sport claims that there is a 'strong' feeling that the English gem, who shares the same agency (CAA Base) as current Tottenham star James Maddison, will move on from St. Mary's before the end of the transfer window.

He is an attractive target for Levy and Postecoglou due to his positional versatility, as he can play in both full-back positions and in midfield, and the fact he fits the homegrown quota having come up through the Spurs academy before his move down south.

Why Spurs should sign Kyle Walker-Peters

Along with the two reasons stated in the report above, there are other factors involved that could make Walker-Peters a fantastic replacement for Emerson this month. Firstly, the 27-year-old ace knows the club inside and out, having spent seven years there at youth and first-team level, and that, along with his 115 Premier League appearances, could help him to hit the ground running.

Secondly, his performances on the pitch in the Championship to help Southampton earn promotion back to the top-flight suggest that he has the potential to be a quality option for Postecoglou.

Walker-Peters caught the eye with his contributions at both ends, whilst his teammates let him down by only scoring four times from the 12 'big chances' he created. The Saints defender, who was described as a "beautiful" footballer by Russell Martin, would likely have to settle for a back-up role at his boyhood club, however.

Tottenham Hotspur made their second big-money addition of the summer transfer window on Saturday when they announced the signing of Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth.

The Lilywhites have splashed out a huge fee of £65m to sign the one-time England international on a permanent deal from the Cherries, after his return of 19 goals in 38 Premier League matches last term.

That may not be the end of the club's business during the summer transfer window, though, as they have been offered the chance to land a former Premier League star.

Spurs offered chance to sign Super Lig star

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham Hotspur are one of a number of clubs who have been told that Galatasaray winger Wilfried Zaha would like to return to the Premier League, a division he has appeared 305 times in.

After just one year in Turkey, following on from his exit from Crystal Palace last summer, the Ivory Coast international wants to move back to England.

The report claims that Spurs, Aston Villa, Leicester City, and Palace have all been made aware of his availability, providing them with a chance to sign the attacker.

However, the outlet does not reveal how much Galatasaray would demand for the 31-year-old whiz, who is reportedly on £120k-per-week in Istanbul.

If the financials behind the deal work for Spurs, Postecoglou must push to land the experienced forward as he could come in as a big upgrade on Manor Solomon.

Why Wilfried Zaha would be an upgrade on Manor Solomon

Firstly, the Israel international missed a whopping 33 games through injury in his debut season for Spurs and was absent for 17 matches for Fulham during the 2022/23 campaign.

This shows that he is not a reliable option for the manager due to his consistent injury issues over the last two seasons, which is why signing a player to replace him could make sense.

Zaha, meanwhile, has only missed 29 games through injury in the last four campaigns combined and this suggests that he could be far more reliable for Postecoglou.

The Galatasaray ace, who scored nine goals and provided three assists in 13 Super Lig starts, also proved himself to be a fine option in the Premier League in his final few seasons with Palace.

As you can see in the table above, the former Eagles star showcased his quality as an excellent goalscorer from a left wing position, whilst he also averaged at least one key pass per game across all three years.

Zaha, who was once hailed as a "joy to watch" by pundit James Collins, could offer far more of a threat at the top end of the pitch than Solomon, who has produced four goals and two assists in 24 Premier League games in his career.

These statistics indicate that the 31-year-old gem would come in and provide more quality as a scorer of goals, as Solomon is yet to prove himself on a consistent basis.

Instead of persisting with an injury-prone winger with a subpar attacking output, Spurs could swoop to sign the Ivorian wizard from Galatasaray to improve their options in the final third.

Tottenham Hotspur wrapped up their pre-season with a 3-2 defeat to Harry Kane and Bayern Munich in their last match before the Premier League campaign on Saturday.

Dejan Kulusevski found the back of the net twice, including a goal in the first minute of the match, but strikes from Thomas Muller, Dayot Upamecano, and Serge Gnabry secured the friendly win for the Bavarian outfit.

Ange Postecoglou will now have his full focus on the opening game against Leicester City, newly promoted out of the Championship, at the King Power stadium.

The Lilywhites missed out on Champions League football for this season, finishing below Aston Villa in the table, and a top-four finish may be in the Australian boss' sights this term.

Spurs have dipped into the market in an attempt to bolster their squad, with Lucas Bergvall, in a deal that was agreed earlier this year, Archie Gray, and Dominic Solanke all joining this summer.

The club's latest signing was Solanke on a permanent deal from Bournemouth, which has been reported to be worth £65m, to improve the team's attack.

Spurs eyeing new centre-forward

Despite that addition to the squad, Tottenham are reportedly in the market to add another centre-forward to the group to compete with Solanke.

According to Football Insider, Spurs have their eye on a possible swoop to sign Jonathan David from Ligue 1 side Lille before the end of the window.

The report claims that Postecoglou is lining up a potential move for the Canada international as there is continued uncertainty over Richarlison's future at the club.

It adds that that Brazil international 'could' leave before the deadline passes but does not mention if there are any teams currently pursuing his services, though it does say that there are Saudi Pro League clubs monitoring his situation.

Football Insider also reveals that a number of Premier League teams are eyeing up David this summer, which means that the Lilywhites could face significant competition for his signature.

The report states that the Canadian marksman is now into the final 12 months of his contract with the French side and that has forced them to lower their value of him to £25m, which is why he has emerged as an attractive target for Spurs and other sides in the English top-flight.

If Tottenham do win the race to secure his services before the end of the summer then Postecoglou could have two excellent striker options, with him and Solanke.

What Dominic Solanke could bring to Tottenham

A £65m transfer fee will bring a degree of expectation with it for the English attacker, who has already proven himself to be a capable scorer at Premier League level.

Solanke has played in England for the majority of his career, bar a loan spell with Vitesse in his younger days, and does not have to adjust to the league or the country, as a signing - like David - coming in from abroad would have to do.

This means that Postecoglou and supporters may feel like he should have to hit the ground running this season, due to his experience in the league and his hefty price tag.

The one-time England international is coming off the back of his best season in the Premier League for the Cherries, having never managed more than six top-flight goals prior to the 2023/24 campaign.

Solanke plundered 19 goals in 38 appearances in the division last term and no Spurs player managed more than Heung-min Son's tally of 17 in the league.

This suggests that the £65m signing from Bournemouth could come in to provide a much-needed boost in the final third for Postecoglou, if he can continue his impressive form in a Tottenham shirt.

As you can see in the table above, Solanke consistently got himself into fantastic goalscoring positions, as evidenced by his 19.63 Expected Goals tally.

He did slightly underperform based on the quality of chances that came his way but that should not be a massive issue, given how slight the underperformance is, if he can continue to get into positions for those opportunities to fall his way.

Solanke could, therefore, be a fantastic attacking option for Spurs and the club could land another excellent striker to compete with him by signing David.

Why Spurs should sign Jonathan David

The 24-year-old star, who was hailed as "mind-blowing" for his country by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has been a prolific forward in France in recent years and could come in as an outstanding replacement for Richarlison.

If the Brazilian does move on, to the Pro League or elsewhere, then Spurs could improve their team by swooping to sign David in reaction to that.

The Lille sensation, who has scored 28 goals in 54 caps for Canada, has racked up 121 goals in 267 appearances in his club career to date, which speaks to his knack for scoring goals on a regular basis.

As you can see in the table above, David outperformed Richarlison as both a scorer and a creator of goals during the 2023/24 campaign, with eight more goals and twice as many 'big chances' created in their respective leagues.

The £25m-rated marksman had also fired in an outstanding 24 goals in 37 outings in Ligue 1 in the previous season, which means that he has scored 43 goals in the last two league campaigns combined.

These statistics show that David has the ability to find the back of the net at an impressive rate at the top level, albeit he is unproven in the Premier League.

This means that Spurs could end up with two strikers in their squad - Solanke and David - who both scored 19 goals in a major European league last term, which could provide Postecoglou with all the firepower he needs to fight for a top four finish, and possibly even more.